Acla's Descent into Floristella

Set in Sicily in the 1930s, Aurelio Grimaldis feature debut chronicles the harsh story of twelve-year-old boy, Aclà, sold into slavery by his destitute parents to work in the underground Floristella sulfur mines.Overworked and underfed, Aclà toils from Monday to Saturday in the steamy, candle-lit labyrinths. Repeatedly beaten and abused by his owner and with constant threats of being raped, Aclà plots his escape to the sea...but this leads to dire consequences for the boy and his family. Product Description

DVD Movie

I've been looking for a copy of this movie for a long time. I'm glad I found it here in Amazon. September 8, 2008

Descent into hell

This film was inspired by true events. It's an unflinching exploration of social mores and disturbing sexual practices. It exposes the endless cycle of religious hypocracy and poverty that allowed it to sacrifice generations of children.
Those who toiled in the sulfur mines had no access to their wives and family for 24/6. Both men and boys shared a communal sleeping chamber where the weak were subject to the spector of sexual abuse on and off the job.
The only thing that kept this film from getting 5-stars from me was the dialogue. At times, the dialogue was stiff and it seemed as if the actors were reciting their lines. I would highly recommend this movie for viewing for those who want to understand why conditions that the film presented could exist. November 11, 2007

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