High up on the placid slopes of Sicily's Madonie mountains lives a heroic figure, the custodian of a mystical substance with a thousand names.
Former hippie Giulio, with his penetrating gaze and thick bushy beard, is now a farmer faithful to his heritage, a living example of how to redeem our relationship with nature and one of the most fascinating philosophers of nature one could hope to meet. He is one of the last 30 harvesters of manna in the world.

Director’s note

Giulio is an endlessly fascinating philosopher of nature, and to me, he is a true contemporary hero. Despite an uncertain future, he continues to resist and fight to carry on the legacy of his fathers and grandfathers. I like to imagine him as a knight-errant battling against a homogenizing industrial system that strips dignity from farmers.
Considering the crisis we are currently experiencing, in which the industrial food production system is negatively impacting life on this planet, it is all the more vital to highlight and promote virtuous reasoning and alternative production models.Giulio serves as an example because for generations he has managed to make a living from his work while also safeguarding the environment. With his enlightened visions and forward-looking perspective, he prompts us to reflect on our relationship with nature and the universe. In a globalized world of astronomical figures, the logic of tiny local businesses like his may seem insignificant and anachronistic. Yet it is the only viable path if we want to restore a harmonious relationship with our Mother Earth.
We need to rethink a system based on local production. Even the science of evolution tells us that an organism must adapt locally to survive, but for reasons not understood, scientific agriculture has exempted humans from this requirement. Giulio's example of adaptation is clear. If we want sustainable agriculture and a sustainable lifestyle, we must set limits, limits suggested by each specific local area and each type of production. It’s just common sense!
As Giulio likes to say: "It's nice to have nature working for me at the minimum wage."