Spain’s Pamplona has the running of the bulls, Italy’s Siena has Il Palio. For 700 years this twice-yearly horse race has taken place in the Piazza. Each neighbourhood (contrada) nominates a horse and negotiates for a jockey to compete against the other contrade in a colourful 80 second, nervewracking bareback dash. This documentary follows the preparations and race as part of Civetta contrade – a fiercely proud bunch whom victory has eluded for the previous 24 years.
The Last Victory
Directed by John Appel