Noel Remembrance Day, up tonight Rai 1 airs at 9.30pm The Marcher the true story of Abdon Pamicha film that goes beyond the career of an athlete: Pamich walking is not just an athletic disciplinebut one existential metaphor, an exile’s journeystarted from Fiume after World War II, and reaches Olympic glory.
The film starts with the trauma of the escape, continues with the arrival of refugees in Italy of the young Abdon and his older brother Giovanni, and continues with family difficulties and poverty. Then, almost by chance, Abdon encounters the march, a symbol of resilience.
The Marcher the true story of Abdon Pamich: plot and previews of the film. February 10. Rai 1 and RaiPlay
River, 1945. The war is over. Abdon Pamich, 14 years old and his one year older brother can start living again. Giovanni has the ambition of becoming a surgeon; Abdon on the other hand has yet to find his way. The dream of freedom, however, does not last long: the city and Istria are occupied by Yugoslav soldiers. Uncle Cesare is arrested and his father Giovanni (Fausto Maria Sciarappa) is forced to work for the government.
After a few months he leaves his land to give his children a future. In Milan it starts all over again. But it’s hard. The family remains in Fiume, but Abdon and Giovanni feel lost without their father. Two years later they crossed the border after traveling 30 kilometers on foot and reached Giovanni in Italy. Here they don’t find what they think and they go as far as Novara, to a reception center for refugees.
“The Marcher the true story of Abdon Pamich”. (Courtesy press office)
The condition is precarious. Istrians are considered foreigners to be mistreated. Giovanni does not give up, and together with his brother he goes in search of a school. The eldest begins to attend high school; Abdon studies in the technical institute. Willpower pushes them towards a possible future. A year later the family joins them in Novara. From there they moved to Genoa. The father found a job. The past years Abdon works at the port, while Giovanni is in his second year of university.
Abdon Pamich becomes one of the greatest sports champions. True story
At a friends party, Abdon meets Maurathe one who will become his wife and who will follow him throughout his successes. In Genoa he began practicing marching, always encouraged by his brother. Sport becomes a metaphor for freedom. Following the boy is the coach Giuseppe Malaspina, who has an innate intuition for those who have talent. Abdon has running in his blood.
Sport becomes his school of life. The athlete joins the national team, participates in the European championships, wins bronze at the Rome Olympics in 1960 and gold in Tokyo in 1964. He broke record after record and medal after medal. Abdon becomes one of the greatest champions. Alessandro Casale’s film is based on the book Memoirs of a marcher by Abdon Pamich himself (edited by Roberto Covaz), Biblioteca dell’Immagine editions.
The cast of “The Marcher, the true story of Abdon Pamich”. (Courtesy press office)
A story of sport and resilience
«Telling the life of Abdon Pamich means telling much more than a sporting career: it is the portrait of a man who made perseverance, determination and resilience his lifestyle. His march is not just an athletic discipline, but an existential metaphor. A journey that began among the rubble of war and reached Olympic glory”, declared Alessandro Casale.
The real Abdon Pamich. (Courtesy press office)
«This film tells the genesis of a man before the athletean inner journey that starts from loss, from exile, from adaptation in an Italy that he does not yet know how to welcome, but which will force him to become strong, patient and tenacious. Even before learning to march, Abdon learns to resist”, concludes the director.
The Marcher the true story of Abdon Pamich: the cast
Abdon and Giovanni as teenagers are played by Gregorio Cattaneo Della Volta and Andrea Bordoli, while as adults they are Tobia De Angelis and Michael Marini. The father of the two young protagonists is Fausto Maria Sciarappa, these days on Rai 1 also with Hearts 3, while the mother Irene is Eleonora Giovanardi. Abdon’s coach Giuseppe Malaspina is played by Michele Venitucci. The cast also features 92-year-old Abdon Pamich.
