During World War II, a commander in the Royal Italian Navy, Salvatore Todaro, takes charge of a newly commissioned submarine called the Cappellini. The officer had experienced severe back injuries from a past accident but in spite of this, refused to retreat from naval life. 

On 16 October 1940, in the midst of the Battle of the Atlantic, a Belgian steamer carrying British-made weapon parts opened fire on the Italian submarine and in retribution, Commander Todaro ordered a counter-attack. There followed an extraordinary and little-known event : an act of humanity that caused the Commander to disobey his superiors’ orders and take great risks.  

This true story is depicted not through the stereotype of the special effects-laden wartime blockbuster, but instead has its own individual dramatic style.  

Italy, Belgium 2023 I 2hrs 2m I Dir/Writers: Edoardo de Angelis, Sandro Veronesi

Cast: Pierfrancesco Favino, Johannes Wirix, Massimiliano Rossi

Language: Italian, Flemish (subtitled)