Io sono tuo padre, by Mathieu Vadepied, from the 24th August in cinemas
20 July 2023
The opening film of the prestigious Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival 2022, Io sono tuo padre, by Mathieu Vadepied, arrives in Italian cinemas from 24 August with a titanic Omar Sy, actor and producer, joined by co-star Alassane Diong. The film, a Unité and Korokoro production, produced by Bruno Nahon and Omar Sy is distributed by Minerva Pictures in collaboration with Altre Storie.
The film is set in 1917, during the First World War, when troops composed of soldiers from Senegal and the rest of Africa fought alongside the French army. It is the story of a father, Bakary Diallo (Omar Sy), and his son Thierno (Alassane Diong), who are forced to face a war that will test their strong bond. A private but ‘universal’ tale about the love of a father for his son.
“Io sono tuo padre is the project of a lifetime. – the director said – Without recognising our common past, we cannot move forward and create together a society based on respect. We have tried to tell a story of a father and son, of human beings, with all their emotions and problems, many of which are the same as today: relations with authority, domination, revolt, ambition. The aim is to succeed in transforming the vision we have of our society. The film wants to create curiosity. To reach, I hope, those who are trapped in fears. To speak of the beauty of different cultures, ways of life, languages and their acceptance. Because this desire for difference is a strength”.
“Io sono tuo padre – added Omar Sy – chronicles the private lives of men against the backdrop of war. A war told from the human point of view. I think this is practically the only way to tell the story. There is no other way to convey its full meaning, to see its horrible consequences”.
SYNOPSIS
1917, World War I. Senegalese Bakary Diallo enlists in the French army to join Thierno, his 17-year-old son recruited against his will. Sent to the front, father and son must face the war together. Animated by the ardour of his captain who wants to lead him into the heart of battle, Thierno will have to emancipate himself and become a man. But Bakary will do everything to prevent his son from fighting and to bring him home safely…