Italian director Daniele Luchetti and I recently spoke about his hit film My Brother Is an Only Child with 6,732 miles and an interpreter between us. He was home in Rome, and I in Los Angeles. The film was a smash success in Italy, as well as at the most recent Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, and will enjoy its release in New York on March 28 and Los Angeles on April 4.
Adapted from the novel by Antonio Pennacchi, My Brother Is an Only Child is the story of a family burdened by economic strife and the sibling rivalry of two brothers with opposing political ideologies.
Set in Italy's tumultuous 1960s and 1970s, Elio Germano plays Accio, the younger brother whose disappointments and frustration in life lead him to join the Fascist Party. His older, handsome, charismatic brother—and mother's favorite—Manrico, played by Riccardo Scamarcio, is a leader in Italy's communist movement.
With a strong character-driven drama and beautiful cinematography, the film portrays the disillusioned romanticism of the pervading ideologies of the time.
In hindsight, Luchetti can see the common theme in his work: characters who search for high ideals whether in love, politics, teaching, or traveling. He commented, "The film does not take a political stand: It talks about people who take stands—I believe this was my key, finding the human element which is personal and emotional at the core."
I asked Luchetti how Italy's political environment has changed since the era he depicts in his film. Had the country's political ideas matured like Accio who grows to understand that real political change or radical action is about responding to, and being responsible to the real needs of people beyond ideology?
Luchetti replied that in many ways his country is "stuck in ideology" and abstract rhetoric, unable to implement concrete solutions to address Italy's pressing issues. He views his film as a possible example, a hope of sorts, for his country to move forward in a positive direction.
Since the film deals with the often romanticized ideals of communism, I asked about the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games and the awareness that Italian society has regarding the heating topic of human rights abuses. He said, "In Italy we are not devoting much to this there. I do think it should be a very big concern and we should be much more concerned with human rights."
The making of My Brother Is an Only Child was particularly transformative explains Luchetti, describing his process of identifying with each character by seeing the story from their point of view. This created a bond between him and the actors, which left him with a deeper "involvement on a human level that will influence me in the future…
"In the past, I have political themes; this is the first time my goal was to express a human story."
Feeds