Watch Lampedusa in Winter

Lampedusa in Winter is a 2015 Italian documentary film directed by Jakob Brossmann. The film takes an intimate look at life on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, situated south of Sicily, and explores the harsh realities faced by the island's inhabitants, who are struggling to cope with the European migrant crisis. The documentary is shot during the winter, when the island is virtually devoid of tourists and migrants, and the sea is too dangerous for boats to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. With little to no economic activity, Lampedusa is a ghost town, where the locals are left to fend for themselves, dealing with the harsh winter conditions and the aftermath of the previous summer's influx of migrants.

The film tells the story of Giacomo Mercurio, a fisherman who is struggling to make a living in Lampedusa's declining fishing industry. Giacomo is an island native, who has been fishing in the same waters for over 50 years, yet he's finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.

We also meet Paola La Rosa, a schoolteacher who is contending with budget cuts and a student population that is constantly fluctuating due to the migrant crisis. She is frustrated by the lack of support from the Italian government, who seem to have forgotten about their plight.

However, the true hero of the film is Giusi Nicolini, the former mayor of Lampedusa, who single-handedly brought the plight of the migrants to the forefront of the political agenda, at a time when Italy and the EU were ignoring the issue. Nicolini is a fierce advocate for human rights, and the film chronicles her tireless efforts to provide assistance and support to the thousands of migrants who arrive on the island every year.

As the film progresses, we see the winter slowly turning into spring, and with it, the inevitable arrival of the migrants. The film captures the heart-wrenching scenes of the migrants being rescued from the sea, many of whom are traumatized and in desperate need of medical attention. The island's medical staff and volunteers work around the clock to provide care for the migrants, but the strain on resources is palpable, and the situation is far from ideal.

Lampedusa in Winter is a powerful and thought-provoking film that shines a spotlight on the human cost of the migrant crisis. The film does not shy away from the harsh realities of life on the island and is a poignant reminder that for the people of Lampedusa, the issue is not just another news headline, but a daily struggle for survival.

Overall, Lampedusa in Winter is a must-watch documentary that will leave you with a deep sense of empathy for the people of Lampedusa, and a greater understanding of the complexities of the European migrant crisis.

Lampedusa in Winter is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.