Carmela hustles on the streets of Naples, catering to migrants, connecting them with a lawyer who can get them passports. When the latter absconds, her fragile situation starts to crumble, until she herself ends up on the street with her pre-teen daughter. Defiantly, she scrapes by, illegally occupying a vacant flat. 21st century neorealism, with an exceptional feel for detail and character development.

“There is no doubt that we are in an age of decline, of social injustice and creeping dehumanisation – but we all know it and we are not equipped to defend ourselves. So we start from the person, from the people involved in these themes, driven by the need to survive and the struggle for life. Beyond these considerations on the world, what always interests me in my work is the person.” (director Marcello Sannino)

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Marcello Sannino was born in Portici/Naples in 1971. After several studies and experiences in architecture and independent bookselling, he dedicated himself to cinema. Beyond his commitment as director, from 2008 to 2016 he collaborated in various workshops and ateliers, teaching documentary cinema. Furthermore, he is a film critic and event curator; his documentaries were awarded at several festivals. ROSE STONE STAR is his first feature film.

Filmography (selection): 2004 LA PASSIONE SUESSANA, 2009 CORDE, 2012 LA SECONDA NATURA, 2018 PORTA CAPUANA, 2019 ROSE STONE STAR