My Home, In Libya – Martina Melilli ★★★☆ ☆ 3/5

By Catelyn Chauncey

Following her own experience in human connection, Martina Melilli creates a
compelling narrative in her documentary, “My Home, In Libya.” The documentary is an
artistic dissertation that observes Melilli’s journey in reconnecting with her cultural
ethnicity. Through her striking visuals and cohesive narrative, Mellili brings viewers on a
journey of dissecting her Libyan heritage through her connection with a Libyan man she
meets online, Mahmoud.
The heart of Melillis’s documentary is the exploration of her cultural identity.
Melilli herself cannot visit Libya due to political unrest, so she speaks to Mahmoud
online, who currently lives in Libya. The movie is composed of 3 repeating scenes;
artistic shots of significant motifs, Mahmoud and Melilli’s text exchanges, and Melillis’s
conversations with her grandparents. This cycle composes Melillis’s story of cultural
reconnection. Mahmoud sends Melilli videos and photos of personally significant areas
of Libya and throughout these exchanges, they develop their friendship. At one point in
the film, Mellili and Mahmoud confess that they feel like the other is their only emotional
reprise. Mellili grapples with her own identity as a second-generation immigrant whose
life only exists in Italy because her Grandpa was forced to leave his birthplace.
Mahmoud’s experience with the declining political conditions in Libya essentially
mirrors her grandfather’s history in Libya. Melillis’s experience with cultural rediscovery
may be something that reflects many people’s experiences; often children of immigrants
and victims of political unrest will go through similar emotions. The documentary is very
strong in its portrayal of her experiences and the journey you are invited along to is very
compelling.
Melilli conveys this journey through the use of artistic cinematography and
visuals. Her composition of imagery brings you along for an intimate emotional narrative.
Melillis’s use of symbolism in her imagery captures the nuances of her emotional journey.
Scenes of the ocean appear repeatedly throughout the film. The ocean as a motif can
communicate many of the emotional themes seen throughout the documentary; hope,
discovery, fear, destruction, and limitation. Melillis fascination with the sea as a visual
changes its tone throughout the documentary, beginning as a symbol of her hope and
journey of discovery and morphing into an intimidating, endless expanse as Mahmoud’s
conditions worsen. The imagery of the sea both represents Melilli’s own emotions and the
physical divide between her and Libya. Melilli communicates all of these emotional
intricacies simply through the artistic nature of her film style. This all makes the
documentary a unique and captivating watch, as it all feels so incredibly intimate, while
also making the documentary visually compelling and aesthetic.
Melilli’s use of film as an artistic medium makes following her journey makes her
dissertation stand apart from other, more conventional, delivery methods. The film itself
creates a catalyst for self-reflection in the viewer; perhaps into their own cultural identity,
or merely the absorption of Melilli’s emotional journey. The entire film serves as a
meditation on how human connection builds our cultural identity.