Marina (2013)

The true story of Rocco Granata, an Italian coal miner's son who followed his passion for music against his father's wishes and social barriers.

Director:

Stijn Coninx

Writers:

Stijn Coninx, Rik D'Hiet

Stars:

Luigi Lo Cascio, Donatella Finocchiaro, Matteo Simoni

9 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Luigi Lo Cascio	...	Salvatore
Donatella Finocchiaro	...	Ida
Matteo Simoni	...	Rocco
Evelien Bosmans	...	Helena
Cristiaan Campagna	...	Young Rocco
Marte Bosmans	...	Young Helena
Maité Redal	...	Wanda
Warre Borgmans	...	Mister Somers
Chris van den Durpel	...	Tony Bruno
Flor Decleir	...	Jacky
Jobst Schnibbe	...	Hans Kumberger
Mattias Van de Vijver	...	Renaat (as Mattias Van De Vijver)
Landerik Boie	...	Young Renaat (as Landerik Boe)
Federica Marinò	...	Young Wanda
Pieter-Jan De Wyngaert	...	Jos

Storyline

Salvatore Granata is a rather poor man who lives with his wife, son and daughter in Calabria in Italy. One day Salvatore decides to move to Belgium to work in the coal mine of Waterschei as a "gastarbeider," an immigrant worker. His family will stay in Italy as Salvatore will only be in Belgium for three years. He hopes to earn much money in a rather small time frame so he can buy a forge for his son Rocco who is now still a 9 year old boy. After a year, Salvatore decides his family should be with him, so they also move to Belgium. They soon discover the life of a "gastarbeider" is difficult: they have to live in some kind of barracks, they are neglected by the Belgian people and they do not earn much. They are astonished when they hear Salvatore signed a contract of five years and children of "gastarbeiders" ought to work in the mines as soon they leave high school. Rocco meets Helena, the daughter of the local grocer. However, the man is a racist and forbids his daughter to play ...

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Plot Keywords:

belgium | musician | accordion | male frontal nudity | male nudity | 

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Taglines:

A Story of Passion, Love, and Music.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Belgium Italy

Language:

Flemish Italian French Dutch

Release Date:

6 November 2013 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Marina

Filming Locations:

Beringen, Belgium

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,998,164

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, Les Films du Fleuve

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song "Marina" by Rocco Granata sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and was voted "Best Italian Song of All Time" in Germany.

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Goofs

There are several scenes where Matteo Simoni has to play the accordion. It is obvious Matteo cannot play the instrument at all as none of the keys he presses corresponds with what you actually hear.

User Reviews

A tale about a hard working father and a music passion son.

This movie was based on the life of an Italy born Belgian singer Rocco Granata. It briefs the story of his childhood to becoming an adult. His struggles being a foreigner and limited usage sources in the relocated place were told awesomely, but leaves sympathy with us. The first thing I wanted to clarify everyone is that the movie poster is misleading which gives the impression of the movies like 'Nymphomaniac' and 'Blue is the Warmest Color'. I saw this movie, so I am saying it was a very inspiring story about a hard working father and a music passion son. A very much family type movie, though there were a couple of sex scenes which is not exactly a distracting one. If you leave behind those, it is a great biographical movie for sure, and for tearjerkers

Poor little Italian family dreams to become a rich, for that the father decides to go Belgium to work in a coal mine for three years. Soon after the rest of the family, mother, son and daughter follows him to the north. But it is different than they all assumed, being a family of a mine worker and the foreigner, the society treats them as the illegal immigrants. Now this family is trapped within the boundary of limitation for everything. The father works so hard and extends his contract. But his son is so playful who is passionate about the accordion. After children become the adults, the life turns very hard with the small earnings. Will they get a chance to rise and stand tall from all the odds was told in the remain.

''We are all passion in life. But sometimes it's life that decides what we can do''

Romance, drama, music, sentiments, everything is there in the movie. The romance was so cute, but a very little and conclusion of this sub- theme was so painful. The drama that narrates the family's struggle over providing a better life for their children was remarkably displayed. Musics were so good, sadly I did not understand the meaning of the songs. Especially the title song was really good, now I am listening this track so often. It waited for the right time to bring all the emotions in at one point, where the turning point in the tale makes the way.

The father's performance captured my attention and so the Rocco. Others as well very impressive, especially Rocco's girlfriend given a solid performance with the great expressions. Now that is how a teenage love looks like, in the old days. The end was good, they told what Rocco did afterwards, but did not say what happens to the love life. I am so eager to know that. Beside that there is no complaint anything about the movie. If you are looking for an entertainment as well as inspiration, this movie will provide those so don't miss this. That means I recommend you this.

9.5/10