FTo what extent can the fear of external judgment affect our lives? My brother chases dinosaurs – broadcast tonight at 9.30pm on Rai 1 – try to answer this question with the story of Giacomo and Giò. Two brothers united by a special relationshipwhich at a certain point becomes cumbersome, at least for the first.
My brother chases dinosaursthe plot
The story revolves around Giacomo Mazzariol known as Jack (Francesco Gheghi). Lives in Pieve di Cento, in the province of Bologna, with parents Davide (Alessandro Gassmann) and Katia (Isabella Ragonese) and the sisters Dalila (Gea Dall’Orto) and Alice (Mariavittoria Dallasta). Soon the family expands with the arrival of Giovanni (Lorenzo Sisto).
The birth of his little brother represents a great joy for everyone, especially for Jack. Davide and Katia prepare it by explaining that Giovanni known as Giò is a special child. So special that he has an extra chromosome. Jack considers him a superhero. Over time, however, he understands that what his parents told does not correspond to reality. And for him it becomes “a source of embarrassment”, he says.
Life goes on and the time comes for Jack to choose high school. He meets Arianna (Arianna Becheroni), falls in love with her and convinces his best friend Vittorio known as Vitto (Roberto Nocchi) to enroll in the same school as him. Vittorio agrees and another phase begins. Giacomo is in the midst of adolescence, he is shy and feels different from his peers. Furthermore, he wants to conquer Arianna and tries everything about her to achieve this. Last but not least, he becomes part of the musical group of two rather prominent boys.
“My brother chases dinosaurs”, Lorenzo Sisto. (Paco Cinematografica)
Giacomo’s lies
Despite his popularity, he continues to feel uncomfortable and this feeling is exacerbated John’s syndrome. He doesn’t talk about it to anyone and to hide the truth he takes refuge in lies. Bigger and bigger lies that will have various repercussions. Meanwhile, the band he is part of has a YouTube channel where he uploads videos and Jack shows them to his family.
John it has an illumination. In turn, he shoots videos and publishes them helped by Vittorio. Jack’s school friends see them and he, overwhelmed by shame, deletes them. Furthermore, he points to some phantom neo-Nazis as responsible. Faced with a revelation of this magnitude, Davide and Katia they are forced to intervene. They organize a protest against the alleged movement in which the class participates JamesArianna and Giò himself.
At that moment the boy understands that he has gone too far. So confesses that he lied about his brother and that he was the one who deleted the videos. The reaction of family, friends and Arianna is not the best. They are all disappointed, but Giacomo apologizes. And little by little the calm returns.
“My brother chases dinosaurs”, Isabella Ragonese and Alessandro Gassmann. (Paco Cinematografica)
My brother chases dinosaursfrom book to film
Released in 2019 and directed by Stefano Cipani, My brother chases dinosaurs It is based on a true story, told in the novel of the same name by Giacomo Mazzariol. The film places emphasis on good feelings, on inclusion, on the fear of being oneself and of the judgment of others. Giacomo is linked to Giò, who he wants to protect from disturbances, injustices, deceptions, failures, as Battiato sang The cure.
The song forays into a crucial moment and contains the sense of their union. Nonetheless, he is terrified of how the outside world might react if they found out about his existence. And in this constant struggle between what he would like and what would be right to do and the fear of the consequences, he chooses the simplest but riskiest path: he lies. He pretends that Giò doesn’t exist.
However, he understands at his expense that Giò’s arrival is only an enrichment. And it doesn’t matter what society thinks of that special brother, who it has always considered a superhero. Then there they are Alessandro Gassmann and Isabella Ragonese. They embody the role of present, understanding parentsready to forgive their children always and in any case without ever judging.
The film contains a vast range of feelings: it moves, excites and makes you think. All always with lightness. The cast is completed by Rossy De Palma as Aunt Dolores, Edoardo Pagliai as Scar, while Saul Nanni plays Brune.
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