My Brother Is an Only Child 2008

In the tumultuous 1960s Italy, brothers Accio (Elio Germano) and Manrico (Riccardo Scamarcio) navigate the treacherous landscape of left-wing politics. While Manrico becomes increasingly entrenched in communist ideals, Accio, fueled by a desire for toughness and a nickname to match (“Bully”), finds himself drawn to the Fascist party under the guidance of a market trader. The brothers’ sister, Violetta, watches with concern as her younger brother’s fascination with Benito Mussolini’s speeches grows.

Accio’s pride in his newfound identity is short-lived, however, as his family’s troubles escalate. A rift forms when their mother votes for the Houses Party, prompting Accio to abandon home and seek a sense of belonging among the Fascist ranks. As he becomes more entrenched in the party, he begins to demonstrate alongside fellow young fascists, chanting “Duce! Duce!” with fervor.

Meanwhile, Manrico’s activism takes him to the factory floor and the Rome conservatoire, where their sister is pursuing her passion for the cello. The film presents a balanced portrayal of politics, showcasing both the zealous fervor of the Fascist party and the dogmatic fervor of the Communist movement. Scenes of chaos unfold as activists from both sides clash in a cacophony of shouted slogans and ideological fervor.

As Accio’s relationships become increasingly complicated, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to Manrico and his growing attraction to Francesca, Manrico’s girlfriend. His secret feelings for her are matched only by his fascination with the market trader’s wife, who has taken a liking to him and showered him with gifts, including a car purchased through an installment plan.

As tensions escalate between the brothers and their respective ideologies, Accio’s world begins to unravel. He ultimately leaves the Fascist party after witnessing party members torch Manrico’s car and tears up his membership card in disgust. His personal life also reaches a boiling point as he breaks off his relationship with the market trader’s wife, citing feelings for another, but remains evasive when asked if he is loved in return.

As the revolutionary fervor that had once consumed him begins to wane, Accio (character) finds himself at a crossroads, torn between his desire for personal stability and his sense of responsibility to the tumultuous world around him. Meanwhile, his brother, fueled by a deepening passion for political upheaval, disappears from view for two long years, only to re-emerge with a determination that is both palpable and perilous.

The phone rings at Accio’s doorstep, shattering the silence: it is his estranged sibling, his voice laced with an air of urgency. Accio sets out to reunite with his brother, but finds himself confronted by a tangled web of secrets and deceit when Francesca (character) abruptly hangs up on him not once, but twice. Theirs is a meeting fraught with tension, as Manrico’s arrival at the cafe is punctuated by the unexpected presence of Francesca herself, as well as the unyielding scrutiny of law enforcement, whose eyes seem to be perpetually trained on her every move.

In a desperate bid for escape, Manrico flees the scene, but his flight ultimately proves futile. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire with the pursuing police, he meets his untimely demise. The reverberations of this tragic event send shockwaves through Accio’s life, prompting him to take drastic action in a bid to redress the systemic injustices that had contributed to his brother’s downfall.

With a sense of purpose rekindled, Accio turns his attention to the housing office, a symbol of bureaucratic ineptitude and corruption. In a daring heist, he seizes the keys and records of the homeless, then distributes them with reckless abandon, sparking a wave of defiant action as a party of families takes possession of their long-denied homes in the dead of night.

As the dust settles on this act of defiance, Accio finds himself embarking on a new chapter in his life, one that is marked by a sense of peace and belonging. He is joined by his family, including the small son left behind by his fallen brother, a poignant reminder of the human cost of revolution and the power of love to transcend even the most trying circumstances.