LA CASA DI DIO

A film by Owain Llŷr
Wales, 2009
52 minutes
Certificate: E
bwcibo 003


LA CASA DI DIO AVAILABLE ON DVD IN UK ON MAY 15TH, 2009

‘La Casa di Dio’ is the story of a little Catholic church in Wales, built in a plasterboard prefab, by Italian POW’s during World War II. Imprisoned at Henllan, near Newcastle Emlyn, from 1943 to 1946, the Italian prisoners vacated one of the plasterboard cabins, to build a church. Using unlikely materials, they made candlesticks from bully beef tins, a dome using concrete and chicken wire, and wallpaper from cement sacks. One young prisoner, Mario Ferlito, painted a fresco of 'The Last Supper' with paint made from carrots, tobacco, and dye tablets ‘borrowed’ from a Drefach Velindre Woolen Mill.

The POW camp site was in serious neglect by 1960, when it was bought by Bob Thomson, a Scotsman who settled in the area after the war. For 47 years, Bob cared for the church, showing it to thousands of visitors from around the world.

A trilingual account of a compelling and little known story, ‘La Casa di Dio’ features interviews in Welsh, Italian and English. With rare and extensive archive footage, as well as beautiful imagery of the present- day church and the surrounding rural area, it is a beguiling account of friendship between former enemies. The documentary also features a CGI re-creation of the original camp, and maps and titles, by the BAFTA Cymru winning team at bait. The original soundtrack was composed by Daisy Wrightson.

This is a beautiful story, charting the hidden history of a fascinating cultural clash, and the little church which still endures.

‘La Casa di Dio’ is available on DVD by mail order from bwcibo cyf. The DVD package has English and Welsh versions, and a 12 page booklet featuring images from the film. The DVD is available by mail order in the UK from May 15th, 2009. See ‘CONTACT DETAILS’ page for details of how to order ‘La Casa di Dio’ on DVD from bwcibo cyf. or for further enquiries.