A scene from "Alberi" It's an ancient ritual that started during the middle ages but was eventually abandoned by younger generations. In recent years, that ancient tradition, called "Foresta Che Cammina" (The Forest That Walks) has been making a comeback exactly where it began all those centuries ago- in the village of Satriano di Lucania, located in the region of Basilicata . Filmmaker Michelangelo Frammartino made a film about this ritual and presented it as an installation a few years ago at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. "Alberi" (Trees) tells the story of this old ritual that took place during Italian Carnevale when the men of the village would cover themselves in leaves, transforming into mystical walking trees. Frammartino recaptures the ancient rite in a reenactment that captivated New York audiences. According to Frammartino, “Basilicata is home to numerous arboreal rites. Trees are not just figures in the background, the
100+ YEARS OF THE GREAT ITALIAN MOVIEMAKERS