Kino Istra – Cinema Istria presents the film
The Girl from the Salt Pans (Bread and Salt) / La ragazza della Salina / Mädchen und Männer, directed by František Čáp, 1957, 94′
Legendary Czech director František Čáp (director of Vesna and Ne čakaj na maj) made this unique Italian-German-Yugoslav co-production in Piran and Portorož, featuring some of the biggest European stars of the time. In this melodrama about survival and love, young Marina is forced to take on hard work in the salt pans after the death of her parents, where she becomes the target of harassment and schemes by the saltworks supervisor. Fisherman Piero tries to protect her from exploitation.
The role of fisherman Piero is played by the young Marcello Mastroianni, one of the greatest actors of all time. French actress Isabelle Corey, a beauty and muse of New Wave directors, shines as the courageous Marina. The film also features Mario Adorf, one of the most celebrated German and European actors.
The film also has significant historical and ethnographic value thanks to its scenes of traditional salt production in the Sečovlje Salt Pans during their full operation in 1957, showing salt workers’ houses as well as the tools and clothing used at the time. Real local residents, salt workers and fishermen appeared in the film as extras.
Organizer: Otok, Institute for the Development of Culture and Society
