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Film: My Brother Is An Only Child
Release date: 11th August 2008
Certificate: 15
Running time: 108 mins
Director: Daniele Luchetti
Starring: Elio Germano, Riccardo Scamarcio, Angela Finocchiaro, Massimo Popolizio, Ascanio Celestini
Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama
Studio: Revolver
Format: DVD
Country: Italy/France
In this Italian drama directed by Daniele Luchetti, we are introduced to the Benassi family, who chaotically co-exist in Latina; a small town located forty miles west of Rome. Accio, the youngest, is bursting with the famous Italian fiery spirit, clashing with his family and dividing them along political lines. Set in the 1960s, My Brother Is an Only Child sets out to examine one of life’s strongest bonds, that between two brothers, and follows their progress as violent clashes between the local fascist and communist parties, and the temptation of a beautiful woman threatens to tear them apart.
Accio, played by Ellio Germano, is pulled away from a life in the priesthood by his elder brother Manrico, who is played by Riccardo Scarmarcio. Returning home to find his room given to his sister Violetta, and his parents unwilling for him to follow his natural ability in studying the classics, Accio begins to rebel, claiming unfair treatment, starting arguments wherever possible, and sparring with Manrico, often coming to physical blows.
Accio finds escape from his tumultuous family home by helping a local market trader called Nastri. Nastri tells of better days under Il Duce, or Mussolini, explaining that after the Second World War, millions of Italians deserted the fascist cause, betraying the ideals of an Italy where the rich looked after the poor. This appeals to Accio’s enquisitive mind, and he signs up with the local Fascist party, to the dismay of his working class family, especially Manrico, who is an active member of the Communist Party.
Society is bubbling in Latina and across Italy. Worker protests, rallies and fighting break out between the two rival parties. It is in this context that Accio comes of age, and when he meets the beautiful Francesca, played by Diane Fleri, he immediately professes his passion for Fascism in the hope of impressing her. However, it comes to light that Francesca is already dating Manrico, and is a member of the Communist Party. Accio seems destined to be relegated to being a shoulder to cry on for Francesca, while Manrico the older, successful, better looking brother gets the girl. Though Manrico is unreliable, and as politically turbulent as his younger sibling, and he quickly spirals into suspicious dealings, increasing the element of danger to our central characters…
Peppered with political sloganry, passionate outbursts and fiery displays of emotion, My Brother Is An Only Child begins with much potential to be a fantastic drama. The tension between the family crackles in tandem with the socio-political issues of the town, drawing the viewer into life in a highly politically charged society. Despite the occasionally shaky camera work, the subtle aging of Accio near the beginning of the piece, along with the well directed crowd scenes at the rallies impress. Scamarcio and Germano are realistic as brothers, and the frustration of Accio at being the youngest and pipped to the post with Francesca is an empathetic performance.
There are often highly comedic moments, such as the love tangle between Accio and an older woman, and the efforts of Accio to be seen as a man by Francesca despite her persistent dedication to Manrico.
The energy, however, begins to fizzle out. Despite its billing as a tale of the relationship of two brothers, Manrico suddenly disappears from view, and the romance card is played to the detriment of the gripping drama this could have been. Yes, we are watching Accio mature, and this is of some interest, however, the climatic ending of the film loses its full effect as one of its main character’s has been without plot for some time.
As a result, this changes from an interesting on-screen discussion of the divisive effects of pro-active political belief, to a slightly directionless everyday segment of a teenager’s life, with the plot only just scraping some drama in before the finale. Historically, politics has had counter-intuitive effects when theory becomes practice, communism and fascism both examples of how the ideal can attract followers only for corruption and the destruction of human rights to follow. With such potential for drama unexplored, the film feels a little shaky. Is it a political drama? Or is it a story of sibling rivalry?
It certainly isn’t consistent, however, it does cover, if swiftly, some important points which are still relevant today. For example, the ease of people in power to use a political ideal to remove liberties, and the power of propaganda when offering a sense of belonging to those who feel isolated and lost.
As a whole, My Brother Is An Only Child attempts to tackle many subjects at once and doesn’t quite pull it off. With both moments of excellence and disappointment, it is on the way to perfection, with the plot more at fault that the direction itself. Luchetti’s greatest success is conveying the Italian tendency to be emotive and passionate in their ideals, sometimes prone to anger, but romantics at heart. AT
Film: The Past Is A Foreign Land
Release date: 4th October 2010
Certificate: 18
Running time: 127 mins
Director: Daniele Vicari
Starring: Elio Germano, Michele Riondino, Chiara Caselli, Valentina Lodovini, Marco Baliani
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Studio: Vita
Format: DVD
Country: Italy
Although still in the fledgling era of his directorial career, Daniele Vicari takes on a challenging narrative in the form of the classic good-guy-meets-bad-crowd in The Past Is A Foreign Land. Despite a not so original premise, Vicari endeavours to explore the dishonesty of the subterranean gaming world, and the moral abandonment of the players involved.
Set in the southern Italian city of Bari, the film follows the story of Giorgio (played by the compelling Elio Germano), a straight-up law student from a well-off family who support his ambitions to the full, forever throwing money at him, whether he requests it or not. With girlfriend in tow, Giorgio appears readymade for greatness.
Giorgio’s life takes a turn when he meets Francesco (Michele Riondino) at a party. Francesco lives a charmed life as a swindling card-sharp, having learnt various twists and tricks to assist in conning fellow poker players out of vast amounts of cash. “We challenge fate and we beat it,” is Francesco’s retort of rationality when Giorgio becomes aware of his dark intentions.
Like clockwork, and perhaps as expected, a downward spiral is just around the corner, as Giorgio’s priorities switch from the pursuit of academic success to chasing the quick buck. Loved ones fall by the wayside as the new version of Giorgio begins to take hold, but the extent of the havoc Francesco wreaks stretches far deeper than dodgy card games and flash cars, towards an astonishing and disturbing drug-fuelled climax…
Rather commendably, Vicari employs only characters that are paramount in telling the story. From Giorgio’s mother, and her disappointed parent routine, to the tempestuous nature of his indignant father, through Francesco’s multiple-personality disorder, and ultimately, the psychological breakdown of Giorgio - every character; every look; every conversation has a purpose. Nor does Vicari waste any time with unnecessary scenes or dialogue, refusing to pay any homage to Bari as a setting, instead diving unapologetically into the narrative from the first minute to the very last.
Elio Germano and Michele Riondino deserve much credit for bringing the script to life. The two anti-heroes bond like long-lost brothers, with conversations regarding morality of particular focus throughout. As Francesco slowly manipulates Giorgio’s previously honest demeanour into something far more menacing, and, more importantly, into someone he can use for his own financial benefit.
The methods utilised to con fellow poker players at the table, coupled with the constant danger of someone discovering what they are up to, raise the level of intrigue, and make the opening hour of the film slightly more compelling than the second. However, one minor complaint is Vicari’s reluctance to really focus on the card games. Too often Giorgio and Francesco come away from games with several thousand Euros, but we have witnessed only one key hand, and in too many cases we only hear the characters talking about the cards or the winning hand, rather than being shown.
The second half of the film, whilst devoting itself entirely to the psychological and moral breakdown of the two leads, is more than watchable, but it is clear that we are not supposed to be comfortable with what we see. Whereas earlier in the film, Giorgio’s conscience would often pipe up at any sign of trouble, Francesco is able to stretch the boundaries of morality much further, while Giorgio remains worryingly quiet. As Vicari takes the film to the point of no return, it becomes clear that fans will be won and lost in the final shocking twenty minutes.
Atmospherically, Vicari has constructed something impeccably eerie, particularly in the latter stages, as he toils with the darkest aspects of the human psyche. Although it is arguable that The Past Is A Foreign Land ends up in a slightly far-fetched place, the two leads succeed in maintaining our interest in their final fates. MC
Law student Giorgio is a fine young man, with nice friends and good parents who give him everything he needs. But why for some is that never enough?
One night at a party he befriends a mysterious guest, Francesco. Francesco is cool, handsome and trouble. He invites Giorgio to join him for a poker game, and Giorgio, looking for a bit of kick in his life, goes along, and to his amazement wins. But it was inevitable - Francesco, a cardsharp, is in control.
They start entering big games with high rollers and lowlifes, playing for big money and getting away with it every time, taking bigger risks, until they finally enter the big league - drugs.
Frighteningly in thrall to Francesco, a trip to Barcelona to buy cocaine to sell takes Giorgio over an invisible internal line. No longer a fine boy. No longer a dutiful son. No longer hanging out with nice friends. The extent of Francesco’s influence is brutally revealed putting at risk Giorgio’s future, security and freedom.
The Past Is A Foreign Land is the slacker movie updated for the generation who want luxury without working for it, thrills without consequences, and responsibility for no-one except themselves. It’s a cautionary tale of how the weak are consumed by the strong, seduced by the aura of danger and left for dead in the endgame. Only the very lucky find their good side again.
Film: The Past Is A Foreign Land
Release date: 4th October 2010
Certificate: 18
Running time: 127 mins
Director: Daniele Vicari
Starring: Elio Germano, Michele Riondino, Chiara Caselli, Valentina Lodovini, Marco Baliani
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Studio: Vita
Format: DVD
Country: Italy
