Fans of Claudio Bisio will love this 2008 charmer, Sì Può Fare (We Can Do That).
Sì Può Fare is based on a true story, or as the closing credits say, “a lot of true stories” about life after the 1980′s Basaglia Law, when the Italian government closed down mental hospitals and released thousands of unprepared patients.
An out of work trade unionist, Nello, played by Bisio, takes a job working with a co-op consisting of recently released mentally ill men and women who spend their days licking stamps in jobs subsidized by the government. Nello, who believes that they are capable of doing more with their lives and live like normal people finds a doctor who agrees with him and together they cut medication levels and put them to work in a real company, making and designing parquet floors, and treating them with respect, as business associates.
Director Giulio Manfredonia (Qualunquemente) does a wonderful job of making what could easily have been overly sentimental and one-dimensional a heartfelt and inspiring story about the value of human life, the benefits of seeing beyond perceived limitations, and the empowerment that comes from friendship and encouragement.The actors who play the patients are outstanding, performing the illnesses without stereotypes or overacting.
Sì Può Fare is a feel-good movie if there ever was one, especially inspiring and touching because it’s true.
I’ve found it on YouTube, without subtitles, but free. Be advised, though it says in the description that there are Spanish subtitles, I didn’t see them.
I Love Italian Everything 