Children from the Valley is a documentary project inspired by the relationship between my grandfather Giovanni (95 years old) and the Brenta Valley. My grandfather was born — and will likely die — in the same place: a small, remote village that he has seen change over the years, noticing even its most subtle shifts.

Even though he’s almost a hundred, he still goes for a walk in the mountains every day, where he takes care of fruit trees and a small vegetable garden. His connection with the land is vital — in this simplicity, he finds joy and nourishment.

After the severe drought that hit the Veneto region in 2022, and with the effects of the climate crisis becoming more and more visible, I felt the need to document this place I’ve been deeply connected to since childhood. I gave myself 10 years to tell this story — to better capture the changes, and to give myself the time to feel the memories and the absences.

Perhaps, by the time I finish this project, my grandfather will no longer be here. With his passing, the village will lose its oldest inhabitant — and with him, his memories.