Raffaela Mariniello's debut film 'ZioRiz' explores the Volturno River

Raffaela Mariniello, a photographer from Campania (born 1961 in Naples), premiered her debut feature film 'ZioRiz' at the 25th edition of CinemAmbiente, an environmental film festival held at Cinema Massimo in Turin. The film is a hybrid work blending documentary, fiction, and artist film. It takes its name from the canoe used by the character Gennaro, who serves as a psychopomp guiding viewers through the fragile and majestic territory of the Volturno River in Campania. Mariniello shot the film herself using a camera converted into a video camera, without a script or initial subject, building the narrative day by day. The project involved local residents improvising their roles, including a land manager assessor, a pizza chef assistant, a fisherman executive producer, and a retired engineer actor. The film addresses the relationship between humans and nature, tracing the river from its uncontaminated source to the ecological disaster at its mouth in Castelvolturno. Mariniello cites influences from photographers Mario Giacomelli and Luigi Ghirri, as well as filmmakers Pier Paolo Pasolini, Matteo Garrone, Paolo Sorrentino, and Gianfranco Rosi (particularly 'Sacro G.R.A.'). The soundtrack features a piece by Japanese musician Cornelius. Mariniello plans to make a future film about the Ilva steel plant in Taranto, one of Europe's largest, continuing her exploration of industrial and environmental themes. The interview was conducted by Valerio Veneruso.