Valentina and the MUOSters

Twenty-six-year-old Valentina still lives with her parents. She has always put their welfare before her own needs. The two, on the other hand, keep harping on how clumsy and unambitious she is. The sensitive young woman finds reassurance among the thousand-year-old cork oaks of the nature reserve surrounding her small Sicilian town. This same town hosts a US Navy ground station with massive parabolic antennas for the MUOS satellite. For years, locals have protested the health risks posed by strong electromagnetic waves. Against her parents’ wishes, Valentina joins the anti-MUOS rallies and dreams of finally gaining independence—learning to drive, finding a job, and taking charge of her life. With remarkable sound design and a tender touch, director Francesca Scalisi captures Valentina’s late but moving blossoming in a film that prompts us to reflect on our relationship with territories and how they shape our lives. Valentina will linger in your memory long after the credits roll.