ITALO BAROCCO SYNOPSIS Based on a true story, Italo Barocco vividly depicts the life-altering friendship between an extraordinary dog and a lonely child. One day, a good natured stray dog by the name of Italo, wanders into the small Sicilian town of Scicli where stray dogs are thrown into pounds. Italo's arrival causes a terrible uproar because everyone in the village is fiercely opposed to having stray dogs around! Everyone... except Meno, a precociously wise 10 year-old, who is as lonely and introverted as can be. Since his mother passed away, Meno has shut everyone out, including his workaholic father. It will take all the unconditional love a special dog like Italo can give, to force Meno out of his shell, leading him into a series of adventures that will teach him the difference between acting like a grown up and actually becoming one. Director: Alessia Scarso Cast: Marco Bocci, Barbara Tabita, Elena Radonicich, Vincenzo Lauretta Country: Italy Running Time: 100 min. Year: 2014 Genre: Comedy
FILM ANALYSIS In 2009, in the wake of an unfortunate incident involving a pack of stray dogs and a small child, the town of Scicli decided that all the stray dogs had to be removed from the streets. It was just at this time that this honey-colored mongrel came to Scicli. Some people thought the dog was left alone after the death of his elderly owner, while others believed it abandoned by a homeless man. But Italo never told his story to anyone. Strangely enough, at the time of Italo's arrival to town, the town's paranoia with stray dogs began to fade away. Italo chose Via Mormina Penna, a UNESCO heritage site since 2002, as his new home because he was sure to find food from nearby restaurants. Practically a human on all fours, Italo became the town mascot: he went to mass, weddings and funerals; ate pizza at a local pizzeria; attended all of Scicli s religious festivals; and served as a guide for tourists showing them to the local monuments. Italo was also a brave dog and one night saved a young girl walking along a street. She was attacked by a thief and Italo jumped on the man and chased him off. Italo became extremely good friends with Carmelo, nicknamed Meno, a motherless boy who kept to himself and who did not have a good relationship with his father, Antonio. Italo "understood" the problem and found a way to reconnect the two. Meno was in love with Chiara, a schoolmate but was too shy to tell her and even there, Italo intervened. Italo, Italo, Italo everywhere! Who was Italo? What was Italo? The reincarnation of someone who loved Scicli, say the town's people. Italo's life in Scicli has been recorded, photographed and filmed. If Italo had never existed, he would have certainly been born from the imagination of screenwriter. Since he really existed, it was inevitable that he would be the star of a movie. It was a story waiting to be told. The film adaptation of Italo not only tells the life of this extraordinary "character" but involves a multiplicity of intrigues in the lives of the inhabitants of a small community centred around Italo. The movie is intended as comedy, but at the same time, a touching human story. Starring alongside Italo, are three children and three adults, portrayed against a Sicilian background full of colour and tradition. a a
As per the director Alessia Scarso: Sicily is well known as the land of contradictions, exposed to invasions by foreigners, who both conquered it and enriched it. Italo Barocco presents a picture of how Sicily confronts the issue of dealing with strangers from a novel perspective. It tells the story of how Sicily succeeds in accepting diversity once the barriers of prejudice and initial diffidence are overcome- even if in this case is a lovable, benevolent stray dog. Against this historic background, we find the inabitants of Scicli and how they carry on their lives. Typical personalities who give a strong identity to the small community in which the story takes place, like the mayor, the teacher, the town councillor, the gossips, the old men who sit in the town square, all personalities taken from the reality of everyday life whose idiosyncrasies add colour and authenticity to the story. Sicily has a reputation for guardedness and this film wants to show its sincerity, the witty authenticity of its people, mitigating through native humour its apparent contradictions and presenting them with an interweaving of realism and fantasy. Italo passed away on January 31, 2011, leaving a great void in Scicli.
THEMES The themes and the starting point for discussion offered by the movie are the following: relationship between father and son friendship between man and dog treatment of stray dogs dogs as therapy for loneliness dogs' intelligence bullying love diverisity and prejudice being accepted for who you are growing up Sicily, its people and traditions RECOMMENDED AGES The movie deals with the relationship of a dog with a boy named Meno and his influence on the people of the town of Scicli, Sicily. For its light-heartedness and positive message, the movie is recommended for everyone Grades 3-12 TEACHER RESOURCES Film featuring dogs The 101 Dalmatians Hachiko My Dog Skip Marley and Me Article from IL GIORNALE- Ecco il film dedicato a Italo un vero «cane gentiluomo>> http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/ecco-film-dedicato-italo-vero-cane-gentiluomo-937390.html
TOPICS FOR REFLECTION 1. Describe the relationship between Meno and his father Antonio. 2. When and how did Italo and Meno meet each other and why did they become friends? 3. When Italo arrived in Scicli, he was just a stray dog. Explain how he made himself accepted in the community of Scicli. 4. Meno lives in solitude; his mother passed away and his father seems not to understand him. When and how did Italo allow father and son to rediscover each other? 5. Antonio is fascinated by Laura, Meno's school teacher. Why does the community not accept her? 6. Meno likes his classmate Chiara, but he is too shy to tell her. How does Italo intervene in this matter? 7. Italo is accepted by everyone is town; he acts like a traffic police officer and he even goes to church. Why does the town priest try to keep him away? 8. How does Italo behave with tourists? 9. How does Italo behave at the funeral of a young man who died in an accident? 10. Describe the personality and character of Luisa Nigro, the city counsellor and mayoral candidate. 11. How does Italo make Meno understand that his loneliness is over? 12. Have you had any personal experiences with stray dogs? Explain. 13. What lessons did Italo leave behind for Meno, Antonio, Laura, the priest, the town's people? 14. Have you experienced the difficulty of being accepted in a new community? If so, how did you try to fit in? 15. Did you like the ending of the movie or would you have preferred a different ending? Explain.
LINKS TO THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM (Based on the Grade 5 curriculum but applicable to most grades) LANGUAGE ARTS MEDIA LITERACY 1. demonstrate an understanding of 2. identify some media forms and a variety of media texts explain how the conventions and Purpose and Audience 1.1 techniques associated with them Making are used to create meaning Inferences/Interpreting Form 2.1 Messages 1.2 Conventions and Responding to and Evaluating Texts 1.3 Techniques 2.2 Audience Responses 1.4 Point of View 1.5 3. create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques; Purpose and Audience 3.1 Form 3.2 Conventions and Techniques 3.3 Producing Media Texts 3.4 4. reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts. Metacognition 4.1 Interconnected Skills 4.2 ORAL COMMUNICATION 1. listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes Demonstrating Understanding 1.4 Extending Understanding 1.6 FULLY ALIVE/FAMILY LIFE PROGRAM THEME TWO: Living In Relationship Grades 4/5/6 THEME FOUR: Growing in Commitment Grade 7 THEME TWO: Living in Relationship Grade 8
ITALO BAROCCO is a story about a friendship between a stray dog and a lonely young boy. Since this film deals with a homeless animal, it presents itself as a perfect opportunity to help other stray animals in need. ICFF Junior would like to encourage all the schools attending the screening of ITALO BAROCCO to organize a fund-raising initiative with your class, where all proceeds go to the Toronto Humane Society to help care for the animals just like the one in ITALO BAROCCO. Not only will students be made aware of the needs of our community but it will help students understand the benefits of philanthropy and how we can work together to help different aspects of our society. Representatives from the Toronto Humane Society will be at each screening to accept monies raised on their behalf. The students will know that their donations are accepted and appreciated and they will be shown how their contributions will be utilized. Those that participate in the fundraising will be given a special treat as a thank you for their efforts courtesy of FERRERO. For details contact us at junior@icff.ca