Stray

Directed by Peter Auer-Grumbach

Synopsis:
Young aspiring break dancer Marco and the toy merchant Domenico meet one night in a small town in Southern Italy during the pandemic. Marco has been waiting for his mother for hours. Domenico suggests to him they look for her together.

Director Statement:
In "Stray" (“Bighellone”), aspiring break dancer Marco and toy merchant Domenico meet one night during the pandemic. In the course of this accidental meeting, we explore the question of whether a stranger can still be trusted. In recent years, child abuse, cybercrime and wars have led to a growing suspicion of the unknown: Is it still okay to let strangers help you in such an environment? Today, we live in an environment where supposed role models such as politicians, actors, athletes or even people from our immediate surroundings, such as our neighbors, lie to us again and again. Often incited by mass media, especially social media, and fake news, society believes that something sinister is lurking around every corner. "Stray" deals with this tension and examines whether we can approach each other today, despite all our differences, in order to build new trust.