Finding the Blue
A documentary devoted to longevity and the Blue Zones, between Sardinia and the United States.
Finding the Blue moves through Sardinian longevity and international research around the Blue Zones. Directed and written by Pietro Mereu, it is an ILEX Production in collaboration with the Municipality of Arzachena, supported by the Sardegna Film Commission Foundation.
The project carries the question of long life into a cultural dialogue with the United States, with programming activity in Manhattan in 2026.
Finding the Blue
A documentary film by Pietro Mereu
Synopsis
What lies behind the world record for human longevity? Ten years after his first groundbreaking work on the subject, Ogliastra-born director Pietro Mereu returns to investigate the secrets of long life in Sardinia with “Finding the Blue”. This time, the focus shifts to the Gallura region, chronicling the historic scientific and anthropological journey that officially certified Arzachena as a world-renowned Blue Zone land.
Featuring pivotal insights from Dr. Gianni Pes—the world-famous scientist who originally coined the term “Blue Zone”—and intimate accounts from local nonagenarians, the film masterfully weaves cutting-edge medical research into collective memory. Far from being a mere biological study, the documentary proves that Gallura’s exceptional longevity is a highly sustainable lifestyle model forged by genuine agro-food supply chains, powerful social bounds, and environmental harmony. This international masterpiece redefines the concept of well-being, showing how rural roots can actively inspire modern global urban regeneration.
Director’s Statement (Pietro Mereu):
“We must be the ones to tell the story of our land’s longevity. ‘Finding the Blue’ represents cinema at the service of science, capturing the unexpressible: that unique alchemy of DNA, lifestyle, and community which allows our elders to grow older while remaining young at heart.”
Technical Specifications
- Director & Screenplay: Pietro Mereu
- Cinematography: Claudio Marceddu
- Editing: Nicola Contini
- Production Company: Ilex Productions
- In collaboration with: Municipality of Arzachena, Sardegna Film Commission Foundation
- Featuring: Dr. Giovanni Mario Pes
- Running Time: 30 mins
IG: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17889068832314310/
“A documentary is something more. It exists to shed light on the world’s shadowed places.”Pietro Mereu← All works