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Hercolaneum. An unlucky escape

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Hercolaneum. An unlucky escape (Ercolano. Gli scheletri del mistero)

Hercolaneum. An unlucky escape (Ercolano. Gli scheletri del mistero)

original title:

Ercolano. Gli scheletri del mistero

directed by:

Marco Visalberghi, Maurice Ribière

cast:

Michele Virgilio, Antonio Reina, Elvira Giannini, Francesco D'Ignazio, Fausto Sciarappa, Pietro Naglieri, Egidio Gulizia, Roberto D'Amico

cinematography:

Daniele Gastoldi, Stefano Pancaldi

editing:

Paolo Vanghetti

set design:

Mario Fontana Arnaldi

costume design:

Lia Francesca Morandini

music:

Andrea Guerra

producer:

Marco Visalberghi

production:

Doclab, France 3 Cinéma, La Compagnie des Taxi-Brousse, in collaboration with Discovery Channel, Rai Tre, Mediatrade

country:

Italy

year:

2002

film run:

50'

format:

colour

status:

Ready (02/04/2002)

festivals & awards:

  • Festival du Film Archéologique (Amiens) 2003: 2e Prix du festival
  • Festival International du Film Archéologique (Bruxelles) 2003: Prix de l’image
  • Festival International du Film d’Archéologie (Nyon) 2003: Prix spécial du jury et du public
  • Festival International du Film Maritime (Toulon) 2003: Mention spéciale du jury
  • Rencontres Internationales de l’Audiovisuel Scientifique (Paris) 2003: Prix spécial du jury
  • Rassegna Internazionale del Cinema Archeologico 2003: "Città di Rovereto" Prize
  • Rencontres internationales de l'audiovisuel scientifique, Image et science d'Orsay 2003 : prix spécial du jury - télévision jeunesse
  • Icronos (Bordeaux) 2004: Grand Prix du Festival
  • Cinarchea Intenational Archaeology Film Festival 2004
  • International Earth science film festival 2004
  • Festival International du Film d’Archéologie Bordeaux 2004: Grand Prix
  • Festival du film Peplum Arles 2008
  • Festival Internazionale del Cinema Archeologico di San Vero Milis 2012: in Competition
  • Segreti d'Autore 2012: Uomini e Vulcani
  • Rassegna Internazionale del Cinema Archeologico di Taranto 2011: in Competition
  • Festival Internazionale del cinema Archeologico di Noli 2011: Sezione Panorama
  • Archeologia al Cinema 2010: Panorama
  • Rassegna di Cinema Archeologico 2009: Panorama
  • Rassegna di Cinema Archeologico di Stabia 2009: in Competition- Audience Award
  • Capitello d'Oro 2006: in Competition - Special Mention
  • Vedere la Scienza Festival 2006: in Competition
  • Rassegna Internazionale del Cinema Archeologico a Sanzeno 2005: Panorama
  • Rassegna Internazionale del Cinema Archeologico 2003: in Competition

On the 24th August 79 AD, the eruption of Vesuvius went down in history. The prosperous Roman city of Pompeii was totally eradicated, buried under a torrent of pumice. Several thousand of its inhabitants perished slowly and painfully. Less than ten kilometres away, the small, noble town of Herculaneum was lost under thirty meters of volcanic mud where it would remain forgotten for over a millenium and a half, only returning to light at the start of the 18th century. The two hundred years of digs that followed for over a millenium and a half, only returning to light at the start of the 18th century. The two hundred years of digs that followed uncovered the remains of only thirty-two bodies. So what happened to Herculaneum and its inhabitants? The mystery remained unsolved until the recent discovery of three hundred skeletons cast new light on the question.