Excellent documentary, it opens a door on the reality of the military areas that have been ravaging the splendid Sardinian island for too many years!
6 Reviews
Don't miss it !!!
paolomelis19 February 2020
A tough, but moving and affecting documentary
jianninas27 February 2020
I hope that every inhabitant of Sardinia will view this documentary. I wish every citizen of Italy will watch it. And I trust that the more insightful and discerning military and political forces of the country, in view of the data that has emerged, will press for the closure of the military polygons on the territory. Kudos to the director, Lisa Camillo. Plaudits to the 'balentes' of Sardinia.
An amazing documentary that really explains, with indubitable evidence and interview, what is going on
alessandrociccolo24 February 2020
I know many people from Sardinia because my grandfather was from there, and some of them brought to my attention through social media, the fact of the military presence on the island. This documentary was really helpful because it explained in a coherent and comprehensive way what is the situation on the island, and how it developed. The work from the director in collecting evidence, interviewing key witnesses and organizing the huge amount of data was really impressive. What it came out was a great documentary that is aimed at raising awareness of both Italian people and the rest of the world, who neither know Sardinia, nor the fact that it's a open-air military base. Great job and effort. Absolutely recommended.
A one-of-a-kind documentary that must be seen!
mathieuvouillamoz18 February 2020
I would like to highlight the fabulous research work of the director, methodological, meticulous and very well documented. The cinematographic technique as well as the judicious choice of the music kept us out of breath throughout this tumultuous journey. As well as showing the horror of the military basis, the director has also chosen to balance her words showing the beauty of Sardenia and the bravery of the Sardinians appealing a panel of emotions, that make us remember why we love watching movies. A one-of-a-kind documentary that must be seen!
Fascinating and Eye Opening
nfoley-9763920 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Lisa Camillo has crafted a documentary about an island that I love and which I thought I well knew, but very clearly didn't. Famous for it's beaches, and as an exclusive destination for the well heeled of Europe and beyond, Lisa has uncovered a secret that is both shocking and sad in equal measure.
Balentes tells the story of a young woman's return, after many years in Australia, to the Island of her birth where her family still lives. Over time she learns of Sardinia's dirty little secret, though it is not the fault of Sardinia or her inhabitants, but that of the Italian Government many miles away in mainland Italy, who signed chunks of Sardinia's land over to NATO to enable it to build military bases, conduct manoeuvers and carry out missile and various other munitions tests on the Island and in the seas around it. In return the Italian government reaps an enormous financial return for leasing the land. Sardinia sees little upside; some fisherman are paid not to fish because the waters are out of bounds and some Islanders find work at the bases or gain custom from the soldiers stationed there. Mostly though it suffers restrictions on the use of the sea around the island, beaches are littered with used and unexploded munitions and, most harrowingly of all, the fallout from these munitions - depleted uranium, chromium and other dangerous substances wreak terrible havoc on the population and the animals located anywhere near these bases. Some local politicians have tried unsuccessfully to raise the issue and to push back on the presence of the bases, and in one village, the inhabitants - the Balentes of the title - fought off the threat of a base being built near to them. One base has been closed but others remain.
Lisa Camillo has made a powerful and heartfelt documentary that's both fascinating and eye opening, showing in contrast the beauty of Sardinia and the ways of it's people which are steeped in the ways of old, versus the desolation and waste caused by the munitions on the land, and the heartbreakingly sad stories told by Islanders of the loss of their loved ones to disease caused by the fallout from these munitions. This is a beautiful, polished, professional piece of film making with, at it's heart, a story that needs to be told about a battle that must be fought. Balentes at long last gives a voice to the people of Sardinia to fight back against the injustice they've suffered with the hope that the bases will one day be closed, the munitions cleared and the land made safe once again.
Balentes tells the story of a young woman's return, after many years in Australia, to the Island of her birth where her family still lives. Over time she learns of Sardinia's dirty little secret, though it is not the fault of Sardinia or her inhabitants, but that of the Italian Government many miles away in mainland Italy, who signed chunks of Sardinia's land over to NATO to enable it to build military bases, conduct manoeuvers and carry out missile and various other munitions tests on the Island and in the seas around it. In return the Italian government reaps an enormous financial return for leasing the land. Sardinia sees little upside; some fisherman are paid not to fish because the waters are out of bounds and some Islanders find work at the bases or gain custom from the soldiers stationed there. Mostly though it suffers restrictions on the use of the sea around the island, beaches are littered with used and unexploded munitions and, most harrowingly of all, the fallout from these munitions - depleted uranium, chromium and other dangerous substances wreak terrible havoc on the population and the animals located anywhere near these bases. Some local politicians have tried unsuccessfully to raise the issue and to push back on the presence of the bases, and in one village, the inhabitants - the Balentes of the title - fought off the threat of a base being built near to them. One base has been closed but others remain.
Lisa Camillo has made a powerful and heartfelt documentary that's both fascinating and eye opening, showing in contrast the beauty of Sardinia and the ways of it's people which are steeped in the ways of old, versus the desolation and waste caused by the munitions on the land, and the heartbreakingly sad stories told by Islanders of the loss of their loved ones to disease caused by the fallout from these munitions. This is a beautiful, polished, professional piece of film making with, at it's heart, a story that needs to be told about a battle that must be fought. Balentes at long last gives a voice to the people of Sardinia to fight back against the injustice they've suffered with the hope that the bases will one day be closed, the munitions cleared and the land made safe once again.
The Ritch Complaining, How Ritch ?
neilreedcom18 January 2021
It's ok for the rich to take over an area where only the wealthiest can afford to live or visit, but industry or military bases that bring money to the less fortunate inhabitants is a bad thing, what a hypocritical way of thinking. Theses "Super Yachts" can't get around the islands because of restricted water ways, not true! They can't ge around because of their size. This is nothing more than white, European privilege. This shows like a propaganda film for the rich and famous. If it were not for some of the scenery I would have given it a zero star. Awful!
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