Sud Side Story, her work with Neapolitan Mario Merola and a unique (though not professional) international cast, is different. Set in Palermo, the film is the story of Romeo and Juliet retold with Nigerian immigrants as the protagonists. Its "Romeo" is an unemployed Italian in Palermo's Capo district, in the old part of the city, while "Juliet" is a Nigerian prostitute who lives in the same neighbourhood. It's a musical, and West Side Story naturally comes to mind, but this time Romeo is Tony (played by Bobo Rondelli), a Sicilian who lives with his three overbearing aunts in a tiny part of Sicily geographically near, but yet far away from, the main tourist circuit of European cities. The story does not seek to conceal the contradictions of impossible integration, behind whose facade the concrete realities remain distinctly black and white. It is a subtle war between cultures and identity, between a black saint and a Sicilian symbol. Gino De Crescenzo's captivating music evokes every street, every corner, of Palermo's depressed neighborhoods.

In an interesting departure from literary tradition, the "Romeo" character is called Giulietto (Jules) and the female lead, "Juliet," is called Romea.

The movie's bright colors leave an impression of Africa, but there are also clear allusions to certain Indian musicals. South Side Story was not an easy film to make. Torre had to face a thousand unforeseen difficulties. Everything could have been simpler with professional actors. But that would have resulted in a different film. The director sought out the African girls at night, while they were on the streets working. One of the Nigerian women deported during the filming ad-libbed a quasi ritual dance around a passport. In the end, however, it was precisely these difficulties that allowed Torre to better understand humanity through these girls. Clearly, she has not renounced her background as a maker of documentary films. Her refreshing inclination for cinematic experimentation is undiminished.

Roberta Torre hasn't forgotten about Sicily. Angelo, another film set in Palermo, produced by Rita Rusic, is in the works. Stay tuned.

About the Author: Mauro Azzolini has written for Occhio di Bue and other magazines.