Synopsis

A sentimental tribute to the early days of the film industry, the film stars Vincent Spano and Joaquim de Almeida as brothers Nicola and Andrea Bonnani.

When their family's architectural restoration business goes bankrupt, the two brothers decide to leave their native Italy for America to try their luck in the movie business.



After working on an attention-getting job at the San Francisco Exhibition, they arrive in Los Angeles in 1915, and are hired by D.W. Griffith (Charles Dance) to fabricate enormous elephants for the Babylon episode of his massive film, INTOLERANCE.

The brothers are thrilled to be working in the business and before long have married a pair of beautiful extras, Mabel (Greta Schacchi), and Edna (Desiree Becker).

Following the glorious premiere of the Griffith film, life becomes more difficult for the two brothers, and after a falling out, they go their separate ways.

When they're accidentally reunited on the battlefield years later, they realize that they're both still devotees of the cinematic faith. Fascinatingly anachronistic in its nostalgic romanticism, the film seems perfectly in tune with the era it portrays.

It is both uneven in the excesses of its melodrama and charming in the naiveté it celebrates.

The acting is generally very good, but as the first venture of directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani into English-language filmmaking, it is sometimes more in need of subtitles than their Italian films.

Cast: Vincent Spano, Joaquim de Almeida, Greta Scacchi, Désirée Nosbusch, Omero Antonutti, Bérangère Bonvoisin, Charles Dance