La Fine del mare

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

A Serbian smuggler living in Trieste, Italy, and specializing in knock-off brand cigarettes makes the fateful decision to accept a larger-than-usual shipment in director Nora Hoppe’s slow-burning study of human trafficking and immigration. On days when the rolling fog provides him with enough cover to set out to sea undetected, small-time cigarette smuggler Todor readies his boat and collects his cargo. The shipments are generally small, but provide enough income for Todor to comfortably exist outside of the law. One day, Todor reluctantly accepts a substantially larger cargo than usual and gets curious enough to open the crate. Inside, he finds something that he never expected: a drugged and wounded woman who has obviously fallen prey to some very nasty people. Incredibly moved by the sight of the beautiful and defenseless woman, Todor boldly fills the crate with rocks, ships the crate to his client, and does his best to tend to the ailing woman’s wounds. Though at first the woman is frightened of Todor, she gradually comes to realize that he means her no harm. Later, Todor procures the woman’s passport and asks her to run away with him. Unfortunately for both of them, Todor’s clients are less than pleased to discover that they have been duped and soon come looking to settle the score.

Orazio Bobbio – MRQE

La Fine del mare