"Happy Winter" Documentary, Filmed in Sicily, to Be Shown on PBS

Thanks! We will try to find it. My husband is seriously studying Italian, and loves to challenge himself with movies. I get to read the subtitles. Of course, if it is in Sicilian dialect, all bets are off.

Thanks acraven for the heads up! I will search for it on our PBS local station. And you are correct- "probably as close to Sicily as any of us will get this year." We missed our revisit to Sicily last fall.

Grazie

Janis, I don’t know where in Washington you are, but if your PBS station is KCTS, I found it on their schedule for Jan. 11. But there are two times listed in different places: 4 pm and 7 pm. So I will check back on Monday when the full schedule is out. I did watch a trailer and it looks like lots of fun.

Lola, yes KCTS is our local PBS station. I was able to check out the trailer this eve. It looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for your follow up.

I just watched this short movie. I really enjoyed it! Just watching people doing their summer routine of hanging out at the beach for at least a couple of weeks in August. I couldn't believe to what lengths they go to decorate--and make functional--their little cabanas! It wouldn't be my idea of a vacation but obviously these people were loving it.

Can someone tell me why it is called "Happy Winter?"

Our first trip to Sicily was late in December, so early winter a few years ago. It was truly a great time to be there, although we had only a half hour on one beach, at sunset.

Maybe they named it because, by watching this pleasant program this winter, when so much darkness has entered so many lives since last winter, it could help make this a happier winter.

Peace, happiness, health, and future trips to Sicily - that will be a good thing!

Can someone tell me why it is called "Happy Winter?"

Because people of neighboring cabins see each other only around Ferragosto and the summer holidays end in September. So when the season is over they wish "Good winter" each other. The original title is Buon Inverno (Good Winter) not Felice Inverno (Happy Winter).

It's odd since they all live in the same city. The only people I heard using the same expression were those spending the winter in different Regions, and only when it was time to go back into everyday life. In my experience it was used especially by those that could spend only the summer holidays "at home" and that had to go back north to make a living. It implies a long term routine that's become a tradition. "I'm sure I'll see you again in 12 months".

Dario, that’s really interesting! I can imagine a similar scenario with a restaurant where the same people go on a regular basis, and see the same fellow diners, but only see them at that restaurant. And when people are done with dinner, they could wish everyone “Good Breakfast” on their way home.

for people who haven't watched - there is a 2 minute official trailer on youtube - the PBS subtitled version and the original Italian only version...

looks like Sicilian politics enters into things...

To Dario: Thank you for the explanation of the title! Makes sense now.

The dialogue and subject matter of the trailer is fascinating, even if being sardined that close to each other on a Sicilian beach would give me the claustrophobic heebie-jeebies even before Covid. Still, I'll watch and dream.

But the political and economic talk, rife with distrust of anybody in power, reminded me of a show Anthony Bourdain did on Rome, specifically at a deserted bar near a hotel at Ostia Antica. Longtime patrons, having had their time in the sun decades ago, now perfectly content to sit with their cronies, drink and discuss anything that comes to them. Bourdain loved it, and so would I.

I miss that about visiting Italy, listening to the locals converse in a manner where time doesn't matter.