Baarìa - An Epic Historical Film

Baarìa is a beautiful story of Peppino who is a mischievous boy, spent his entire life to tribute his little town—Bagheria, to join the communist party and agitate for workers’ rights. Baarìa is the first Italian film to open Venice in nearly 20 years, and one of the most expensive movies ever made in Italy. Giuseppe Tornatore, who used to be a freelance photographer, then switched to cinema, directed the movie and his films touch the soul of Sicily, transcending the ordinary, the conventional, the stereotypical. As we know from the AOF book, Italian film was initially cinematic territory, violent gangster, or mafia tales. However, through Tornatore’s movies, audiences will see social statements, emotional stories, powerful messages, and difficult historical and social issues in the real Italian lives.

This journey was initiated from a small town in a Sicilian family. From a little boy, to an educated adult, Peppino became deeply involved in politics, and joined in the communist party. After marrying his sweetheart, he started being more passionate in political struggles and worked non-stop for his political belief. After his great contribution and hard working, Peppino unfortunately wasn’t the one who was accepted and won the vote by the people in town, and always felt like he’s a failure himself. However, he has never stop dreaming and striving not only for his own success but also for his belief in the town in the future.

The movie was woven epically with the unique twist in the end of the movie—dreams, history, memory, remarkable journey interconnect through time. I was completely impressed at how perfect, unique, and rich the movie carried the span epic proportions in time, history, and character. Artistically, the movie honestly, realistically, and fully depicted the stories and happenings to the people in Sicily. Additionally, how wonderful the story was captured in the movie, and how operatically and beautifully the soundtrack was, I was massively enjoyable.

There were a lot of images and scenarios from the movies that brought my memories back. For example, the in-class punishment, abusiveness, poverty, inequality of different classes and statuses, those similarly happened in my country too. Back to those days, my mother was abandoned to go to university because my mother’s father was working for an opponent political group. Or, my parents were discriminately treated in school because of their impoverishment. Also, my parents were too poor to afford new clothes, so they collected used clothes from neighbor, friends, or even from the streets. Those scenarios moved me!! What I really liked in the movie is the communist or socialism, because I find that communist is so related to human’ lives, and similar to Italian political progress, sadly my country used to be socialism.

Personally, I avoid watching heavy political content films, strong tension or War drama; however, I believe that you will find astonishing and amazed, if you like to explore many different stories, histories, passion. As usual, we all see success, unrealistic dreams, fortune, and happy endings in Hollywood films, and life is definitely not like we see from movies. So, if you are tired of those types; you must find this movie realistic, unique and special. The movie has 2 hour and a half hour long; if the length of the movie doesn’t bother you, I highly recommend you to watch this film.