The qualitative study examines how transnational mobility can impact on identity and youth-to-adulthood transition among young Italians who have moved to Australia and those who have returned to Italy.

“When we talk about the transition to adulthood, we refer to specific moments in a person’s life, such as completing studies, obtaining a job that guarantees economic independence, finding a partner, leaving the family home and having children,” Marchetti explained.

Marchetti’s research focuses on young Italians aged between 18 and 39 who left Italy to live in Australia, specifically in Perth, or who returned to Italy after living in Australia for at least a year.

“The idea was to develop the research results not only through traditional channels, namely the publication of a research report in the form of a doctoral dissertation and academic articles, but also through a film project that was able to reach a wider audience,” Marchetti said.

“The participants welcomed the idea of a documentary with enthusiasm; they were all eager to share their life experiences and migration stories.

“On our part, there was the desire to give a voice to young Italians, who find it hard to make themselves heard in everyday life.”

Marchetti’s research involves 36 participants, 25 of whom migrated to Australia and settled here permanently and 11 of whom returned to Italy after a period of time Down Under.

“We could only select a few exceptional stories for the film; we chose four young people who’d left Italy and settled in Perth and three who’d returned home,” Marchetti said.

“We chose the stories that best summarised the experiences of others, showing different types of mobility and the various phases of settling in Australia and returning home.”

The Movers is directed by Palermo native Francesco Di Trapani, who has collaborated with Italian television programs such as Report and Geo, both of Rai 3 TV channel, and directed short films including The Pleasure of Listening, which was selected for the Life Screenings International One Minute Film Festival in Florida in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a significant obstacle during filming, as it prevented the director from being present in Australia.

Filming began in 2019 and continued until 2021, in sync with the research project.

Originally from the Tuscan city of Prato, Marchetti moved to Perth in 2019 for 13 months, during which she filmed all of the interviews under the remote direction of  Di Trapani.

She didn’t meet Di Trapani until she returned to Italy in 2020 and the duo began filming participants who had migrated to Australia and then moved back home.

Due to COVID-19 woes, the Australian side of the project was entrusted to two collaborators based in Perth: film graduate Xavier Jansen and Italian photographer Piero Falco.

The film features interviews with participants as well as scenes from their daily lives.

“We’re currently in the editing phase,” Marchetti said.

“It’s the most delicate part of the process, in which we need to construct the real narrative.

“But I’m happy to say we’ve already received positive feedback from both the protagonists and institutions.”

The Movers is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, promoted by Com.It.Es in Western Australia, and supported by the Consulate of Italy in Perth and the Youth Mobilities, Aspirations & Pathways (YMAP) Project.

To be released this month in Italian with English subtitles, the documentary will also be submitted to various film festivals in Italy, Europe and around the world.

Marchetti and her team are also working to have it broadcast on television and streaming platforms.

A screening of the film will be held at the Italian Consulate in Perth or the headquarters of Com.It.Es in Western Australia.