Billy Barraclough — A short film about Sardinia’s sacred Ardia horse race

Every year in the small Sardinian town of Sedilo, horses gallop through the streets as part of a sacred ritual in honor of Emperor Constantine the Great, a symbol that Christianity will continue for another year. Billy Barraclough’s film, “S’Ardia,” follows local rider Leandro Pes as he prepares to take on the prestigious role of leading the race with his son, Andrea. Barraclough tells Alex Kahl what it meant to capture such a monumental moment for the town and for this close-knit father and son.  “The bond between the community of Sedilo and horses goes back to the dawn of time,” says Leonardo Pes in the opening of Billy Barraclough’s film, “S’Ardia,” as three shrouded figures ride to the top of a peak on screen. In the film, we meet Leonardo as he prepares to lead the town’s historic annual ritual, a horse race through its streets, a great honor he’s waited for all his life.  Held each year in the small Sardinian town, the race is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, with its high speeds and sharp turns. It commemorates the Battle of Milvian Bridge, fought between the Roman emperors Constantine I and Maxentius in
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