S'Ardia

Overview

Set in the rural Sardinian farming village of Sedilo, shepherd Leonardo Pes has ridden the ancient S’Ardia horse race for more than thirty years. A sacred catholic ritual set among dusty mountains and harsh Italian light, more than a hundred riders test their devotion against its dangers in honour of Saint Constantine. This year, Leonardo is asked to lead S'Ardia, an honour granted only once in a lifetime. Breaking with tradition, he asks his son Andrea to ride beside him, the first father and son to lead the ritual together in its 200-year history. 'S'Ardia' follows Leonardo and Andrea as they prepare their horses, tend to their sheep, and move through the quiet rhythms of pastoral life. As the race approaches, Leonardo reflects on the beauty of fatherhood, the responsibility that comes with tradition, and the meaning of a life so deeply connected with horses.