Movie spotlight
Faccetta nera
Faccetta Nera is the title of a song written by Renato Micheli and composed by Mario Ruccione in April 1935. This song was certainly inspired by the fascist propaganda that prepared the Italians to face the Ethiopian war. The movie has no political label or orientation and uses the title of the song only to highlight the historical period in which the story unfolds. The story takes place in Naples in 1935 and tells of the generational contrast between a powerful gerarca (Massimiliano Storace) and a young militant of the fascist party (Josc Admiral) who live in the same building. Taking advantage of the departure of the gerarca for Abyssinia, the young fascist tries in every way to attract the attentions of his wife (Roberta Gemma) unknowingly involving also the elderly mother-in-law. When everything seems over, a twist will reverse the events of the story.
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Plot Summary
The film tells the story of an Italian soldier stationed in Eritrea during the Fascist era. He falls in love with a local woman, leading to a complex and ultimately tragic situation as they navigate the oppressive colonial regime and societal prejudices. Their forbidden romance is tested by the harsh realities of war and the inherent injustices of the time.
Critical Reception
Faccetta Nera received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its visual style and the performances of its lead actors. However, some found the narrative to be somewhat predictable and questioned its depth in fully exploring the historical context.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its atmospheric depiction of colonial Eritrea and the central romance.
Performances, particularly by Alba Rohrwacher, were highlighted as a strong point.
Criticism was aimed at a perceived lack of deeper historical or political commentary.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews and their consensus is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film's title, 'Faccetta nera,' is a reference to a controversial fascist propaganda song from the 1930s, which ironically celebrated the colonial conquest of Ethiopia.
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