In May 2023, terrible floods affected Romagna, some places in Emilia and the Apennines.
Rai Documentaries dedicate one to the theme prime time special on May 16th on Rai3, broadcasting Out of the Mud documentary of approximately 85 minutes taken from an idea by Mario Tozzi – who also wrote the story with Riccardo Mazzon – and directed by Matteo Parisini And Riccardo Mazzon.
There is a before, during and after the great rain. Mario Tozzi, geologist, lead researcher of the CNR, presenter of Sapiens (Raitre), is in the field in the flooded areas of Romagna, a year later to address the many questions that still await answers: what really happened from a weather point of view? Why was the damage so extensive? Why, despite Emilia Romagna being one of the richest regions in Italy, the most monitored in terms of landslides and water management, was it surprised by the event? Did too much water simply fall in a short time or was there human error? And if so, are these historical errors in the lands of major reclamations (since Roman times) or errors made in recent years? Or perhaps it was precisely the old works, the old embankments, that saved Ravenna? And again: could it have been predicted? Can it be repeated? What are the things to do and what not to do? Is this really a great opportunity for us all to become more clear about the relationship between wealth, land exploitation and climate change? Are there virtuous examples in this sense in Italy and around the world?
Many voices and contributions collected in the documentary, including those of Luciano Ligabue, Carlo Lucarelli, Milena Gabanelli, Cristiano Cavina, Carlo Cacciamani, Lucia Capodaglias well as the civil testimony of the Romagna population.
The work also makes use of the consultancy and analyzes of two important technicians: Carlo Cacciamaniclimatologist from ItaliaMeteo, who immediately followed the dynamics of the flood, mminute per minute, and processed the data, with graphs and animations to explain how things went from a strictly meteorological point of view: how much it really rained, for how long and why. Lucia Capodagligeneral director of the Romagna Reclamation Consortium, explained to us the relationship between the great reclamation works of the early 1900s, still perfectly active, and today’s reality.
The story of Tozzi and the witnesses focuses on the province of Forlì and in particular in the Romiti district, a microcosm chosen as a symbol of what happened: modern buildings where once there were only crops, proximity to the river, buildings below the level of the banks. But Faenza and other areas of Romagna will also be present through the use of original footage and third-party material. The repertoire – used for coverage and “live” – ranges from the most famous images to the personal ones of the witnesses and to other unpublished ones which, analyzed by the expert eye of Mario Tozzi, will be able to reveal new surprising interpretations.
Out of the Mud is a co-production Rough Productions And Penned Picturesin collaboration with Rai Documentaries and the participation of Conadwith the support of Emilia-Romagna Film Commissionthe patronage of Emilia Romagna region he was born in Municipality of Faenza. With the support of Orogel And Black Elk. For the diffusion of the work the production thanks for the patronage Municipality of Bologna, Municipality of Ravenna – Department of Civil Protection.
For their contribution to dissemination, we thank the Monte di Bologna and Ravenna Foundation and the Teatro Carcano Cultural Association. Fuori dal Fango is a project Green Film.
On May 16th at 5pm in Ravenna, the documentary will be previewed at Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste in the presence of Mario Tozzi and the directors; the same evening at 8.30 pm, at the Oratorio San Filippo Neri in Bologna it will be possible to attend the full screening in the presence of Mario Tozzi, the directors and the production
