Short Film Follows Storm-Felled Trees to Ancient Greek Theater

In October 2018, Storm Vaia felled 14 million trees in northeastern Italy, causing incalculable environmental and economic damage. In Carnia, Friuli, one of the hardest-hit areas, 400 of those trunks were recovered and transported over 1,500 km to the Greek Theatre of Syracuse, where they became the set design for Euripides' 'The Trojan Women,' conceived by architect Stefano Boeri. The journey and the resulting performance are documented in the short film 'Troiane,' directed by Stefano Santamato and produced by Paolo Soravia – The Blink Fish for Stefano Boeri Architetti. The film recently won the Venice Architecture Short Film Festival 2020. It follows the trees' perspective from the Friulian forests to Syracuse, capturing changing landscapes, colors, and sounds. Boeri's set evokes the ancient devastation of Troy, inspired by images of Storm Vaia, an extreme weather event linked to climate change.