A Vatican-linked documentary recounting the life of an Italian man who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy could be in the running for an Oscar nomination. Source: EWTN News.
Green Lava is a 39-minute documentary recounting the life of Giacomo Mattivi, a 25-year-old who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. His older brother had the same condition and died following a respiratory crisis.
“Giacomo was in the same room and saw him die. The documentary unflinchingly portrays that moment and the suffering it caused him, also aware that his own future is also marked by the disease,” said Lia Beltrami, who co-directed the documentary with Ali Aksu.
“Yet, alongside death, there is also resurrection. In a way, that is the cross running through the entire story, because Giacomo finds the strength not to let himself be defeated and to keep moving forward.”
The film “tells the story of a family raising two children with such a severe illness. The parents know their children’s lives will be marked by hardship and will likely be shorter. Even simple activities, like getting up in the morning, require hours of assistance,” Beltrami noted.
Despite the severity of the illness, Giacomo’s life is a testament to hope, which the documentary captures well by showing how faith has helped the family persevere.
The young man is no longer afraid to face the end of his life head-on, and he has even found meaning in his brother’s death. He is currently finishing his sociology studies and will dedicate his thesis to the subject of death.
“He wants to talk about a reality that is taboo in our society, considering both what might lie beyond death and what happens before reaching it,” the Italian director explained.
Last week, the production was presented in Los Angeles as part of the process to qualify for Academy Award consideration in the Best Documentary Short Subject category.
The film was produced by the Vatican through the company Emotions to Generate Change in collaboration with Vatican News and Vatican Media.
The initiative marks the first time a production linked to the Holy See has entered the Oscars competition.
A FULL STORY
Vatican aims for an Oscar with the story of Giacomo Mattivi (By Victoria Cardiel, EWTN News)
