Isabella Ragonese directs documentary on folk singer Rosa Balistreri for Sky Arte
Isabella Ragonese makes her directorial debut with 'Rosa – Il canto delle sirene', a documentary about Sicilian folk singer Rosa Balistreri, airing on Sky Arte on December 4, 2022. Produced by Quoiat Films, the film avoids a traditional biographical approach, instead tracing Balistreri's spirit through contemporary Palermo and its women. Ragonese conducted field research to find women embodying the archetypal themes in Balistreri's repertoire. Balistreri, who died in 1990, is celebrated as a powerful voice of Sicilian folk music.
Key facts
- Isabella Ragonese directs her first film, 'Rosa – Il canto delle sirene'
- The documentary airs on Sky Arte on December 4, 2022
- The film is produced by Quoiat Films
- It focuses on Sicilian folk singer Rosa Balistreri, who died in 1990
- Ragonese's approach is non-traditional, seeking traces of Balistreri in present-day Palermo
- The director identified women in Palermo who reflect the themes of Balistreri's songs
- Balistreri is known for her deeply popular and engaging repertoire
- The film is described as a contemporary and unprecedented tribute
Entities
Artists
- Isabella Ragonese
- Rosa Balistreri
Institutions
- Sky Arte
- Quoiat Films
- Artribune
Locations
- Palermo
- Italy