It simply doesn’t make the jump to the screen as effectively as it should.
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There is a saying: blood is thicker than water. The implied meaning is the bonds of family-the blood-can overcome anything-the water-can throw at it. Certainly this theory has been tested time and again in film and in real life. Love interests, money, philosophies, politics…they have all come between family members to varying finales. Luke and Anakin (aka Darth Vader) had a fundamentally different view of the universe and look where it got them. In "My Brother is a Only Child," Italian politics in the 1950s and 1960s tears apart two brothers who find themselves on opposing sides.
One event sends young Accio (Elio Germano) running into the hands of the fascist party: the Cuban Missile Crisis. In seminary school, he is told to pray for an end to the conflict. Immediately, he leaves school, determined to make a real difference in the world. He butts heads with brother Manrico (Riccardo Scamarcio), a communist, as well as the rest of his family. It isn´t until one other event later in life does the world "click" for Accio, reuniting the family. But is it too late?
Based on a novel by Antonio Pennacchi, I have to believe the structural problems come from the source material and not the adaptation. The major problem is the narrative moves far too fast in the beginning, not allowing the characters to have a chance to breath, to be real people. What is it that aligns Manrico with the communists? Where do his beliefs come from? We know-somewhat-about Accio.
A historical issue comes into play here, particularly for foreign viewers. References are made to one side or the other being for the "working class," yet the specifics of fascism and communism aren´t spelled out for the unenlightened non-Italians. A very brief explanation of the sides disguised as dialogue between characters would have helped immensely. (To be fair, the script does at least attempt to educate the viewer; it doesn´t succeed to its full effect because the pieces are scattered throughout the first half of the production.)
Since the story covers a vast swath of these characters lives, certain elements have been dropped, allowing the film to focus in on what really matters: how Accio and Manrico interact with one another. To that end, despite the lack of proper development in the beginning, both Germano and Scamarcio bring an intensity to the relationship defined by different social constructs at different times in the film. Are they political adversaries who happen to be brothers? Are they brothers on the opposite side of an issue? Are they on the same side with opposing plans on how to reach the same outcome?
That is the beauty of "My Brother is an Only Child," a disingenuous title if I ever heard one. With shifting alliances and an unclear understanding of the forces at work, the audience is left with the performances. In short, both lead actors hold up their side of the story with apparent ease. Germano has the easier part, arguably, being able to fly off the handle and turn aggressive for no good reason. Scamarcio is forced to keep restrained, be the mature one even though we see the fire burning behind his eyes. With their shared intensity for the things they believe, it is all but impossible not to buy into both sides. If they feel their individual philosophies so deeply, who are we to argue with them?
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[release]24598[/release]