Pratobello, “Beautiful Meadow”, a very poetic name for a wild territory, the battleground of an epic and successful rebellion. It was one of the few free lands survived to the Italian laws that imposed the private ownership in spite of the ancient Sardinian custom of common use of grazing lands.
Orgòsolo is a village hidden among the mountains of Barbagia, the innermost region of Sardinia, a place where time seems to stand still in the days of Hampsicora, the legendary hero who fought against the Roman invasion.
A village where people speak a language so archaic that most Sardinians can’t understand it any more. Where the resistance against the laws imposed by the invaders has never ceased. A proud village where even children are taught not to cry.
At the end of May 1969 on the walls of the village appear posters imposing the shepherds to transfer their cattle elsewhere because for two months the whole area of Pratobello will be a shooting range for the Italian Army.
But soon becomes clear that the grazing grounds are set to become a permanent military area, depriving the village of its main economic resource.
In June begins the mobilization and the whole population occupies peacefully the ground to prevent the conduct of shooting drills. Men, women and children face up the soldiers and talk sharply to them explaining their reasons. So soldiers learn to distrust the officers who had described the villagers as bandits.
In spite of the intervention of police and carabinieri, people are unyielding and their pacific mobilization can finally stop the military occupation of the territory.
Shortly after the Army is forced to retreat and the Italian government must give up its plans.