English version

Title Credits
... And the story continues... credits
The Divine tree. credits

Traditional Forms of Work 

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The Legend Of Saint Bachisio

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Nora: History of a civilisation   

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Talana: paradise of Ogliastra.

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Nora: History of a civilisation   

This documentary offers a multimedia tour of Nora, a Phoenician-Roman city. The excavations, situated on one of the most picturesque beaches of Sardinia, offer a truly unique sight. The archaeological tour is organised by topic and presented in didactic terms. One section is dedicated to the Archaeological Museum of Pula, where various finds of Nora are housed. The film is rounded out by a brief panoramic view of the spectacular beaches which lie adjacent to the excavations, the ancient church of Saint Efisio and several images of the City of Nora Folk Group.

Credits Nora

Documentary with audio commentary in Italian and English. Nora guidebook in Italian, English, French and German inside the package.

Duration: 45 minutes. Designed for optimum performance in DVD players, viewable on computer via Windows Media Player.

Guidebook text and commentary on the archaeological excavations of Nora by the archaeologist Carlo Tronchetti.

Design, script and production by Giardino Web

Directed by Maria Eugenia Maxia

Audio commentary by Mario Puggioni and Frank Bagg

Photography: Davide Fenu by Multipixel

Musical selections performed by NUR

Copyright Giardino Web 2003

·         Authorisation granted by the Ministry of Cuotural Heritage.

Any further reproduction or duplication by any means is prohibited.

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Talana: paradise of Ogliastra.

 To define Talana as a paradise is in no way an exaggeration. Situated in the heart of Sardinia and surrounded by luxuriant vegetation, it is rich in fascinating archaeological sites, parks with centuries old trees, fountains from which gush the purest and freshest of water, a lake, breathtaking views and animals which wander freely. Age-old cultural, gastronomic and handicraft traditions are still perpetuated in Talana. The most important exposition is a festival dedicated to the local production of ham, which is still traditionally hand-processed. The festival is held on the first Sunday of August and attracts thousands of visitors. The festival of Saint Efisio, a religious and folkloric exposition, is held on the first Sunday of May in the characteristic, rural church.

 A research study of genetic factors has been carried out in Talana by the CNR of Alghero. Studies focusing on the genetic makeup of the population have enabled researchers to establish that 75% of the current population of Talana (1,200 inhabitants) derives from eight maternal and eight paternal lines. This high level of homogeneity permits the identification of genetic variants which are associated with particular phenotypes and which can be said to have a “founder effect”, i.e. were introduced long ago and transmitted to the descendants in such a way as to be found today within families that are not apparently related.

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Traditional Forms of Work

 Ethnographic Documentary with audio commentary in English, subtitled in English.

We are here in Loceri, the picturesque centre of Ogliastra, in Sardinia and we have the distinct impression of having taken a leap backwards in time. An exhibition has been organised in the main square of the town for the purpose of re-experiencing, if only for a few hours, traditional forms of work which might otherwise be forgotten:

Ironworking and the handworking of stone by traditional methods;  a  traditional procedure for the production of brandy; the steps involved in the hand manufacturing of linen;  the construction of a piece of fruit harvesting equipment; the processing of wool; plant grafting; crocheting; the painstaking process of preparing flour and, in particular, the sifting process; the preparation of culurgiones; the process for obtaining the closely pleated skirts of the traditional costume of Loceri, utilising the “su ferru de pranciai”; the marvellous embroidery work.

Credits:

takes, photographs, montage and script Maria Eugenia Maxia, audio commentary Lea Bagg and Eleonora Giardino (italian versioni), organization Marinella Loi and Graziella Demuru, translation Lea Bagg. Plan and production of the Video Giardino Web Località Petite Residence 38 - 09012 Capoterra (Cagliari) tel.0039070728706 fax 00390707279247 www.giardinoweb.it info@giardinoweb.it 

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The Legend Of Saint Bachisio

 The legend, passed down orally from father to son, recounts the story of Saint Bachisio and of the rural church erected in his honour. The story dates back to the period in which the town of Loceri was destroyed. We have testimony which definitively establishes the date of the abandonment of the city by its inhabitants as 1316. The legend maintains that the fleeing Locerians took refuge in Flumineddu. In 1500, the first inhabitant, called Pasquale Locci, returned to Loceri. He was subsequently followed by others who decided to reconstruct the town, returning their patron Saints to Loceri.

 The Return Journey To Loceri 

During the return journey to Loceri, the simulacrum of Saint Bachisio was loaded onto a cart and accompanied by all the inhabitants on the journey back to the town. As they traversed the road for Flumini, the cart became extremely heavy, and the oxen were no longer able to pull it; the statue, as well, had become suddenly heavier. The inhabitants of Loceri understood that the Saint, by means of this sign, wished to make it understood that he desired his church to be constructed upon that site.

 The Equestrian ‘Palio’ 

The Locerians held a consultation and told the Saint that at that site they were still too far away from the town, but they made a solemn vow promising the Saint that from that point a horse race would be held every year in his honour. On the occasion of this ‘palio’ (horse race) the women of Loceri would prepare the banners, embroidered “votive offerings”. As his prize, the winner of the ‘palio’ won “su pannu de is cuaddis”, that is, a banner chosen from among the most beautiful. The other participants were awarded the other banners. This tradition was abandoned, unfortunately, due to the scarcity of horses.

 The De Is Purdeddus ’Palio’ (Donkey Races)

 After two kilometres (at the point where the intersection for Lanusei is located) the cart stopped once more in the town of “Arrengali”. The Locerians promised the Saint that a donkey race would be held at that point every year in his honour; the winner would be awarded the banner “su pannu de is perdeddus”.

 The First Cross

 The legend states that after the inhabitants of Loceri had made their promise regarding the ’palio’ to Saint Bachisio, the cart became light once again and the convoy was able to resume its journey towards Loceri. But as they arrived at the point where a cross is still found today, the cart again became suddenly heavy.

 As they were still far from the town, the faithful promised the Saint that, every year on the occasion of his feast day, the procession would depart from that point. In fact, even today the procession departs from the church and makes a turn in order to pass in front of the cross.

 Near the church of Saint Bachisio there is a second cross. At that point, as recounted by the elderly, the cart stopped once again and it was not possible to move it any farther. Therefore, the church dedicated to the Saint was constructed a short distance away.

 The Cult of Saint Bachisio 

The church of Saint Bachisio of Loceri was constructed over several periods. The latest part of the construction, that of the current open gallery, was added in 1887.

 Pilgrims travelled from far away to ask the Saint to grant a favour or to fulfil a vow, and they slept in the open air in Su Stauli, in the shelter of a canopy.

 There existed near the church of Saint Bachisio a large oven in which the faithful cooked their bread and meat. In subsequent periods the oven was eliminated and thus the women prepared the bread in the houses of Loceri and then carried it to the Church to be blessed. 

Rite against Drought 

Saint Bachisio is considered the Saint of rain and, in fact, it rains every year in Loceri on the occasion of his feast day.

 In the years of drought, in order to ask the favour of the Saint, a rite was performed in order to invoke the rain: those who carried the statue, while crossing the river, lowered it so as to wet the feet.

 Ancient Rite to ask favours of the Saint

 In times past (referring to that period during which the bridge did not yet exist and the river had to be crossed on foot) those who wished to petition the saint for a favour had to perform the following ceremony.

 Those who wished to petition Saint Bachisio for a favour, after having crossed the river, took off the clothing from the festival and, wearing only underclothing, walking always and only upon their knees, arrived at the church of Saint Bachisio.

In order to reach the church the faithful had to make their way around the second cross, that is to say the one the Locerians had promised Saint Bachisio the procession in his honour would start from.

The faithful entered the Church still on their knees, with a lighted candle in their hand; once inside, they would attend the Mass, still on their knees.

At the end of the Mass the ceremonial rite required them to pass around the statue of the Saint. At that point the faithful would leave the candle with Saint Bachisio. Within a year the favour would be granted.

In connection with this ceremony events which actually took place are recounted in Loceri.

A woman whose brother was falsely accused of murder petitioned Saint Bachisio to exonerate her brother. He was freed at the exact moment in which the Saint was carried out of the Church an event that was and in fact still is accompanied by the sound of gunshots.

 Credits Saint Bachisio

 Design, script and production by Giardino Web

Directed by Maria Eugenia Maxia

Audio commentary by Valeria Bandino, Maria Eugenia Maxia and Lea Bagg

Musical selections performed by NUR

Copyright Giardino Web 2002

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 Talana credits

Duration: 45 minutes. Designed for optimum performance in DVD players, viewable on computer via Windows Media Player.

Design, script and production by Giardino Web

Directed by Maria Eugenia Maxia 

Takes Claudio, Eleonora and Silvia Giardino

Audio commentary by Mario Puggioni

Photography: Eleonora Giardino

Musical selections performed by NUR

Copyright Giardino Web 2003

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