Prato Trio

Prato Trio is based on anthropological landscapes captured during the development of Sean’s third feature-length documentary film project. It focuses on the Italian, Chinese, and South Asian communities in the Italian city of Prato, 20 kilometers away from Florence.

Prato has been regarded for decades as the textile industry capital of Europe. Among its two hundred thousand citizens, the Chinese population approaches almost a quarter, the highest proportion among all European cities. This phenomenon traces back to the 1990s when local Italian manpower became scarce, leading to the recruitment of Chinese immigrants who later transitioned into owners of thousands of factories.

Currently, local Chinese have to employ Pakistani workers to fill the new manpower gaps, prompting a new wave of entrepreneurship. Over half a century, the Italian, Chinese, and Pakistani exchange their positions in relays within the exploitative system of capitalism. Surrounded by tangible decorations and seats made of recycled fabrics, the trio of these three main groups perform their symphony together on the three screens.