L'albero degli zoccoli (It,1978), il capolavoro di Ermanno Olmi, Palma d'Oro - Festival de Cannes del 1978, Versione Restaurata e Doppiata in Italiano

**Presented by film critic Marco Di Stefano**

Fourth appointment of the Review **10 E Luce**, one film a month, 10 Masterpieces of our cinema, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the **Istituto Luce**.
Between autumn 1897 and summer 1898, four families live in a farmhouse in the Lower Bergamasca. Among the members of this community, there exists a deep spiritual and cultural bond that leads them to share both beautiful and tragic experiences, ordinary events and extraordinary occurrences. When it comes to paying the strict **Mesagiù**, the master of the farm, two-thirds of the produce, everyone tries to cheat to gain a few extra kilos of flour. When the beautiful Maddalena marries Stefano, all gather for the early morning wedding, and they all welcome them back from Milan with the adopted baby. Together they slaughter the pig; they separate the disputants; they listen to the tales of the old; they receive the parish priest, Don Carlo: they participate in religious functions and local festivals. Everyone rejoices at the miraculous 'healing' of the cow of the poor widow Runk. **Menek is the six-year-old boy who, being the only one on the farm, attends school. One day he returns home with a broken hoof. Dad Batistì secretly works all night to carve him a new one. But he has used a tree cut down illegally.** The master throws him out, and all his friends watch in dismay and helplessness as he departs with his little family towards the unknown and misery.

**Awards**
**Cannes Film Festival 1978** – Palme d'Or and Ecumenical Jury Prize for Ermanno Olmi
**David di Donatello 1979** – Best Film (tie)
**Silver Ribbons 1979** – Best Direction, Original Story, Screenplay, Cinematography, Costumes
**New York Film Critics Circle Award 1979** – Best Foreign Language Film
**César 1979** – Best Foreign Film
**BAFTA 1980** – Best Documentary

**Artistic Cast**
Performed by farmers and people from the Bergamasca countryside.
Web: www.piccologarzia.it/index.php