A portrait of Italy today seen through the lives of ten different Italians.
6: The Sicilian Fisherman
Ciccio Longo is now nearly 80 and has been fishing the Straits of Messina all his life. Here they kill swordfish and tuna with the harpoon. Ciccio's nickname is Piscibonu - the 'good fisherman'.
Piscibonu was once champion harpoonist, like his father and grandfather before him, and he is still out fishing most days from dawn until dusk. One day after an exciting chase they land three big tuna fish, the next day nothing.
His great love is the sea - 'It's like a woman. I want to embrace it' - but each year he catches fewer fish. The factory ships have begun to destroy Piscibonu's way of life. He accepts it with good humour - perhaps because he knows there is little he can do about it.
Narrated by Michael Pennington written by DAVID WILLEY
Assistant producer VIRGINIA BELL
Film cameraman GODFREY JOHNSON Film sound RICHARD BOULTER Film editor ALAN LYGO
Producer JEREMY BENNETT