The Venice Syndrome

Country: ItalyDirector: Andreas PichlerRuntime: 80 mins

Venice is perhaps the most peculiar city on Earth. Its ethereal beauty attracts thousands of tourists daily. But while more and more tourists are coming to visit this unique city, the Venetians are starting to leave. In The Venice Syndrome, Tyrolean director Andreas Pichler deftly explores how tourism has transformed Venice. The film is marked by images of an empty, hauntingly still city that exists after the tourists leave. The world’s most beautiful city turns into a ghost town at nightfall. Entire quarters, long since abandoned by their inhabitants, stand empty, their structures seem to provide only a facade to serve tourism interests. The film shows what remains of Venetian life: a subculture of tourist-service industries, a port for monstrous cruisers and an intimate look at a handful of residents who still make Venice their home.