Daniele Luchetti opens a winsome window into the life of Accio Benassi (Elio Germano), who begins as an unruly, argumentative teenage boy looking for meaning and belonging, taking life too seriously in contrast to his older brother, the suave and cunning Manrico (Riccardo Scamarcio). Accio seeks belonging by joining the Fascist party yet clashes with his Communist brother, providing the conflict that drives Accio and Manrico down a path of love and self-destruction.
My Brother Is An Only Child paints a realistic picture of small-town Italy during the 1960s-70s, with a political landscape that slowly seeps through and shows how fascist Italy left a generation of youths looking for meaning. Elio Germano’s fiery embrace of Accio blazes through the story, from his dynamic hand gestures and passion that engulfs his character. Luchetti paints an emotional picture of Italian social struggles during that span of decades, yet stresses that despite it all, nothing comes between the devotion of la famiglia.
Andrea D’Alessandro
