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After its premiere on April 4th in Bologna, the screening of the latest documentary directed by Tommaso Valente, titled “The thread of sand”, is scheduled to take place in Rome in the coming days. Produced in collaboration with CISP, Instant Documentary, Nexus Emilia-Romagna, and Rete Tifariti, and with support from the Emilia-Romagna Region, the documentary sheds light on narratives of solidarity and cooperation with the Saharawi people.
“The thread of sand" portrays the reality of Sahrawi People tethered to planet Earth by a fragile strand of sand. Caught between the harsh realities of war and the unforgiving desert, their quest for denied independence hangs precariously in the balance. This documentary chronicles their daily struggle in the unforgiving Hammada desert, where hope for a future perpetually eludes them. Amidst this arid landscape, external aid and cooperation are vital lifelines. Thanks to it, water is painstakingly extracted to nurture vegetable gardens, fostering the birth of female-led start-ups. Educational and nutritional initiatives are implemented, alongside projects supporting schools and the disabled. Meanwhile, new refugees fleeing conflict in Western Sahara find sanctuary. Yet, despite these efforts, the Sahrawi existence feels estranged, akin to an alien planet yearning for connection with the wider world.
If the Saharawi people have resisted despite an almost invisibility in the eyes of today's world, it is thanks to the solidarity of NGOs and those friends who today are like family for us, true affections. We are the only people in the history of humanity that has given 30 years to a peace plan. “Ceasefire” is an expression that for us is not a slogan, it is a fact.
The right to self-determination is a concept that seems so simple in words, but it becomes very difficult to put in practice. And all this is due to the lack of will of international institutions. What we see in Tommaso Valente's film is the impact of the lack of will of those in power. This is what happens when those in power choose not to decide rather than decide.
Fatima Mahfud, Representative of the Polisario Front in Italy, speaking during the debate following the screening in Bologna.
The thread of sand is coming out in spring.
We thank the Teatro Villa Pamphilj for their collaboration.