My Brother Is an Only Child
Two brothers, diametrically opposed... can their bond survive?My Brother Is an Only Child
The story of two brothers growing up in Italy in the 1960s and 70s who are diametrically opposed - physically, emotionally and even politically. Yet whilst their lives take completely different routes, there is an underlying love and affection which stops them from breaking all contact. As they get older, however, the polarisation of their political opinions (one becomes a fascist, the other an extreme left-wing activist with connections to terrorist circles) tests their familial bonds to the very limit.
Luchetti's film is a powerful human drama that is also a portrait of Italy at a particularly turbulent point in its modern history. More than a didactic social commentary, it is a subtle and moving film about the blood ties that bind people together against all odds. The film also leavens its powerful and intense dramatic action with enjoyable comic moments and well-observed depictions of individual foibles.
Adrian Wootton
