A startlingly realistic film about a young 11 year old boy, Aclà, following his older brothers and father into Sicilian sulphur mines. It is set in 1930s and at a time when such effective slavery was prevalent - the boy's father effectively sells him to another miner for 500 lira (death warranty). The film is raw and thanks to some excellent acting on the boy's part very realistic as he faces what appears to be the accepted mores of the time where boys were used not only as slave workers but also as sex objects for older miners from Monday to Saturday. I do not believe you can watch the film and not be seriously moved - particularly as there are likely modern day similar scenarios where boys and young men are exploited away from the prying sight of media - though no longer in Europe. A salutary reminder of what can happen particularly where indigent families are effectively forced to sell children.
Review of Aclà
