‘Silent Land’, Green co-production shot in Sardinia, released
Silent Land, the feature-length debut from Polish director Aga Woszczynska, will be released in cinemas in Italy from 29 June. The Kino Produzioni (Italy), Lava Films (Poland) and I/O Post (Czech Republic) co-production is theatrically distributed by I Wonder Pictures.
The film focuses on a couple holidaying in Sardinia and the series of events that puts their apparently solid relationship under threat.
‘Silent Land’: story and location
The sun-soaked landscapes of Sardinia provide the backdrop to an unusual internal drama that begins with an accident that upsets the summer holiday of a wealthy young couple from Poland who are staying in a secluded villa with a sea view and swimming pool. The apparently idyllic holiday of Anna (Agnieszka Zulewska) and Adam (Dobromir Dymecki) is brusquely interrupted by a series of events: the fans don’t work and drought drains the pool. The transparency of the sea floor, the beauty of the Mediterranean undergrowth and the peace of the countryside are not enough to soothe the tension between the two, on the contrary their consciences appear deeply shaken by the unexpected chain of events.
Silent Land was shot in Alghero and Cheremule in September and October 2020, thanks to funds from the Regione Sardegna and financing from MiC (Ministry of Culture), with the support of Eurimages, PFI - Polish Film Institute and Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission (see the complete summary here).
The Green protocol used in the production of ‘Silent Land’
Silent Land is an excellent example of the use of green protocol in the production of a film, an issue where the Sardegna Film Commission is very active, elaborating a protocol on the base of T-Green.
“Shooting between the first and second waves of COVID-19 meant we couldn’t use practices that are usual on sets – explained producer Giovanni Pompili for Kino in an interview – no common water sources (which would limit excessive use of plastic bottles) or catering dishes to avoid wasting food. But we worked with a local catering company to use compostable products, we avoided the use of generators by hooking up to the electricity: we chose accommodation near the sets to make the daily commute shorter and used recycled materials for several scenes; we reduced the use of heavy vehicles, opting to make dressing rooms in buildings. Our approach was low environmental impact combined with high social impact.”