-- Dir. Julia Gutweniger, Florian Kofler - 80min - 2023 - Austria, Italy --

Vista Mare is a poetic and surrealist documentary revealing the hidden labour behind ‘a holiday in the sun’ on Italy’s Northern Adriatic Coastal resorts. Shot over an entire working season (Feb to Oct), it takes viewers on a journey through an artificial landscape built to amuse vacationers. Vista Mare’s camera purposefully watches a multi-national army of seasonal labourers toiling from dawn to dark. Workers test remote-controlled umbrellas, meticulously prepare meals, and most importantly, jolly the patrons into having a good time. Meanwhile on the shoreline, thousands of guests paddle in the waves and enjoy carefully scheduled fun. Little wonder the demands of their jobs drive the workers to chant “Slaves? Never!” in a protest carefully overseen by the Police. In an absurdist loop, Vista Mare watches the workers, who watch other workers play, until the sky turns cloudy, the beaches empty, and the last umbrella closes.