Le ferie di Licu

The young Bengali immigrant Licu is an optimistic happiness seeker. Flexible, hard-working and charming, he has secured a job in Rome in a field that is dear to him: fashion. But despite his remarkable adaptability, he finds himself stuck between the Muslim customs he was raised with and the Italian way of life. For one thing, his female colleagues in Rome are far less inhibited than he is accustomed to. When a letter arrives containing a photo of his future bride that his parents have chosen for him, it seems he will be able to combine Bangladesh and Italy in one and the same future. This turns out to be easier said than done. The marriage negotiations do not progress very smoothly, floods ravage his native land, and his Italian employer shows little understanding for his long absence. But when he returns to Rome with his bride, the true challenges await him. Filmed in an unemphatic but intimate manner, Licu's Holidays becomes a probing sociological exploration of a widespread dilemma for immigrants: which culture should these newlyweds use as a basis for their relationship in their new homeland? The images of a woman locked up at home make you fear the worst, but her desire for freedom leaves you feeling optimistic. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)