Within the heart of Sardinia, a hidden pocket remains where the echoes of the past endure, a world somehow untouched by the rhythm of our modern lives: it’s Tonara, a village of under two thousand souls. Among them, a few people strive to keep the ancient art of cowbell manufacturing alive, battling extinction with opposing philosophies driving their preservation.

Pietro Mereu‘s Sonaggios, a documentary showed at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival, tells the story behind these cowbells, which historically served multiple social purposes: a sound deterrent for theft, a calming aid for livestock, and a powerful symbol of honor and prestige for shepherds.