Acla's Descent into Floristella

Set in Sicily in the 1930's, Aurelio Grimaldi's feature debut chronicles the harsh story of twelve-year-old boy, Aclà, sold into slavery by his destitute parents to work in the underground Floristella sulfur mines. Overworked and underfed, Aclà toils from Monday to Saturday in the steamy, candle-lit labyrinths. Repeatedly beaten and abused by his "owner" and with constant threats of being raped, Aclà plots his escape to the sea...

Cast

Francesco Cusimano

Aclà Rizzuto

Tony Sperandeo

Caramazza

Luigi Maria Burruano

Aclà's father

Lucia Sardo

Aclà's mother

Giovanni Alamia

Salvo

Giuseppe Calcagno

Maurizio Rizzuto

Benedetto Raneli

The priest

Giuseppe Cusimano

Maurizio Rizzuto

Rita Barbanera

Concetta Rizzuto

Salvatore Scianna

Calogero Rizzuto