The Italian city of Naples, devastated by World War II, lies in ruins. Orphaned children Carmine and Celestina survive life in the rubble-strewn streets by helping each other. Like so many others, they dream of going to America, where Celestina’s sister went two years earlier. One night, they stow away on a ship with an eccentric captain bound for New York, where they join hordes of Italian emigrants hoping for a better life in this strange new country.
Before the screening, join us for the opening reception of the EUNIC Film Festival.
Prof. Massimiliano Luca Delfino, Associate Professor of Instruction in Italian, at Northwestern University, will provide an introduction and lead a post-screening Q&A.
Genre: Drammatico
Year: 2024
Country: Italy
Duration: 124′
Language: Italian and English with English subtitles
The EUNIC Film Festival presents “Europe in Motion: Journeys Through Time, Borders, and Identities” at FACETS from November 7-9, 2025, bringing a rich selection of European films to Chicago.
This year’s lineup highlights powerful stories of personal and national transformation, with films delving into topics like resilience in the face of war and displacement, the complexities of migration and identity, intergenerational bonds and human connection, women’s voices challenging tradition, and the fight for justice and truth.
Audiences will journey from post-war Naples to the streets of Berlin and Istanbul, cross the rugged landscapes of the Swiss Alps, and revisit pivotal moments like the Prague Spring of 1968. These diverse stories explore how individuals and nations confront their pasts, redefine themselves, and chart new paths forward reminding us that cinema can illuminate both the intimate struggles of the heart and the sweeping tides of history.
Discover the dull lineup at FACETS.org