AERO THEATRE : LONG LIVE FREEDOM!
By Stas Margaronis
VIVA LA LIBERTÀ (2013, Rai International Sales, 92 min,Italy, Dir: Roberto Andò)
This Italian comedy was shown at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, California.
This film is partly a polemic about the increasing failure of representative governments in tough economic times.
The film’s solution is to tell people what they probably don’t want to hear and this is always a risky maneuver as former U.S. president Jimmy Carter can attest.
Even so, there is a refreshing approach in this film urging politicians to utilize eloquence and truth. It’s a fine idea even if it isn’t realistic.
In the film, Enrico Olivieri (Toni Servillo) is a politician under fire who flees to Paris. Confusion reigns in Italy following Enrico’s disappearance. The party’s leaders replace him with his twin brother – an eccentric writer-philosopher- who has recently left a mental hospital!
During the Q&A after the showing at the Aero some participants were confused about what the film is about.
It’s not that complicated.
In Italian with English subtitles.