Synopsis : Vista Mare is a poetic and surrealist documentary revealing the hidden labour behind ‘a holiday in the sun’ on Italy’s Northern Adriatic Coastal resorts. Shot over an entire working season (Feb to Oct), it takes viewers on a journey through an artificial landscape built to amuse vacationers. The documentary follows a multinational group of seasonal laborers as they work diligently from dawn to dark to ensure their patrons have a jolly good time. As thousands of guests paddle in the waves and enjoy carefully curated fun, the demanding jobs drive the workers to chant “Slaves? Never!” in a carefully monitored protest. In an absurdist loop, Vista Mare watches the workers, who watch other workers play, until the sky turns cloudy, the beaches empty, and the last umbrella closes.
Festival History : Locarno Film Festival Locarno August 13, 2023 World premiere Switzerland
Director :
Florian Kofler, Julia Gutweniger
Producer :
Bernhard Holzhammer, Victor Kössl
Screenplay :
Florian Kofler, Julia Gutweniger
DOP :
Julia Gutweniger
Editor :
Julia Gutweniger, Florian Kofler
Julia Gutweniger, born 1988 in Merano, Italy. She studied Fine Arts at the University of Art and Design Linz, Austria.
Florian Kofler, born 1986 in Merano. Studied Time Based Media at the University of Art and Design Linz. Since 2011 the directing duo has been making films and documentaries together in the artists collective Villa Mondeo . Their first documentary feature Safety123 won the Golden Dove in the Next Masters Competition at DOK Leipzig Film Festival. They live and work in Linz, Austria.