Filing the immigration issue in the public order archive, stretching to the indifference towards refugees died at sea, to home-made Guantanamos and applying the preventive war strategy to stowaway immigration, Mare nostrum strides from one theme to the other on a journey through Italy denouncing the denial of rights foreigners landing Italy have to adjust to and the inefficiency of the Bossi- Fini-Mantovano law. Stefano Moncherini starts making his point from the Kater I Rades (1997's "Good Friday's slaughter" which caused 108 dead) sinking. Some of the film's scenes have triggered off four judiciary investigations on the "Centro di permanenza temporanea" (Temporary Permanence Centre) managed by Lecce's diocesan curia. The documentary also portrays every day life of "regulars'", those who are entitled to visas though still have to live like stowaways due to the iniquities and delays in the enforcement of the law.
