"Il vento fa il suo giro": three special screenings in Piemonte — April 11, 12 and 13 — twenty years after the film's release, with the participation of director Giorgio Diritti and screenwriter Fredo Valla.
- Piemontese cinema celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the theatrical release of "Il vento fa il suo giro" with a tour of 3 special screenings in Dronero (April 11), Villar Perosa (April 12) and Torino (April 13)
- An initiative promoted and organised by Associazione Piemonte Movie, Film Commission Torino Piemonte and O.P.S. Officina Per la Scena, celebrating one of the greatest success stories of Italian independent cinema
- Director Giorgio Diritti and screenwriter Fredo Valla will introduce the film and engage in conversation with the audience at all three screenings
Twenty years after its making, "Il vento fa il suo giro" returns to Piemontese cinemas with three special event screenings celebrating one of the most significant works of contemporary Italian independent cinema.
The screening schedule is as follows: Saturday April 11 at 8:30 PM at the Cineteatro Iris in Dronero; Sunday April 12 at 6:00 PM at the Cinema delle Valli in Villar Perosa; and Monday April 13 at 9:00 PM at the Cinema Fratelli Marx in Torino. Director Giorgio Diritti and screenwriter Fredo Valla — author of the story inspired by real events that took place in the Occitan valleys — will be present at all three screenings.
The initiative is promoted and organised by Associazione Piemonte Movie, Film Commission Torino Piemonte and O.P.S. Officina Per la Scena.
A film rooted in its territory, yet universal in reach
Made in 2005, "Il vento fa il suo giro" is set in the Alta Valle Maira, in the heart of the Occitan Alps, and tells the story of a family of foreign shepherds arriving in a depopulated yet culturally tight-knit mountain community. The story portrays the delicate balance between welcome and suspicion, identity and change, bringing to the surface deep tensions around coexistence and the fear of the other. Filmed in Italian, French and the Occitan language, with many non-professional actors drawn directly from the local community, the film captures the life and dynamics of alpine communities with extraordinary authenticity. At the heart of the work — set in the fictional village of Chersogno — lies a universal reflection: a local story, rooted in a specific linguistic and cultural minority, yet capable of speaking to any community, raising questions of integration, identity and coexistence.
A unique production experience
The film was conceived as a completely independent project, made on a limited budget and through the direct involvement of the crew and the inhabitants of the valleys, who often participated as actors or collaborators. Filming, spread over an entire year across the villages and municipalities of Ussolo and Prazzo in the Valle Maira, followed the rhythm of the alpine seasons, helping to bring to the screen a living, ever-changing landscape that forms an integral part of the narrative. This essential and experimental approach to production — in some ways close to the practices of documentary cinema — gave rise to a work of powerful authenticity, combining formal rigour with emotional intensity.
An unprecedented distribution story
After a successful run at international festivals, the film initially faced significant distribution challenges, linked in part to its linguistic and production nature. Nevertheless, driven largely by word of mouth and the commitment of independent exhibitors, "Il vento fa il suo giro" became a remarkable phenomenon: emblematic was its extended run at the Cinema Mexico in Milan — where it remained on screen for two full years, gradually winning an ever-wider audience — as well as at the Cinema Centrale in Torino. A rare example of "cultural resistance" and alternative film circulation, demonstrating how audiences can recognise and support authentic works even outside traditional circuits.
A cultural legacy for Occitan communities and beyond
Twenty years on, the film continues to stand as a fundamental point of reference for Occitan culture and for all those who reflect on the relationship between territory, memory and transformation. The title itself, drawn from an Occitan proverb — "the wind makes its round" — evokes the idea of cyclicality and return, suggesting the deep bond between past and present, between community and change. The celebratory screenings are therefore intended not only as a tribute to a cinematic work, but also as an opportunity for encounter and dialogue with audiences, in the presence of the filmmakers, to reflect on the value of cinema as a tool for storytelling, identity and cohesion.
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"Il vento fa il suo giro" is directed by Giorgio Diritti, with a screenplay by Fredo Valla and Giorgio Diritti, and is produced by Aranciafilm and Imago Orbis with the support of Film Commission Torino Piemonte.
The film print has been provided by the Cineteca di Bologna.
Tickets for the screenings:
Cineteatro Iris, Dronero — Saturday April 11, 8:30 PM
Information and reservations by email at: cineteatroiris.ops@gmail.com
Cinema delle Valli, Villar Perosa — Sunday April 12, 6:00 PM
Available online at www.cinemadellevalli.it and at the box office during opening hours.
Cinema Fratelli Marx, Torino — Monday April 13, 9:00 PM
Available online at https://fratellimarxcinema.wordpress.com/ and at the box office during opening hours.
