Many international venues welcome the film on Francesco Baracca, the making of which has also been participated by the Municipality of Lugo and the Emilia-Romagna Film Commission
To celebrate the centenary of the establishment of the Italian Air Force, many international venues present a special screening of “I cacciatori del cielo”, the docu-film on Francesco Baracca and the fascinating story of the birth of Italian military aviation, the making of which has also been participated by the Municipality of Lugo and the Emilia-Romagna Film Commission.
The film is co-produced by Anele with Luce Cinecittà in co-operation with Rai Documentari, with the patronage and participation of the Ministry of Defence, Air Force and Defence Services, with the support of Intesa Sanpaolo, Aerea S.p.A. and Elettronica S.p.A., and with the contribution of Emilia-Romagna Film Commission, Visit Romagna, Comune di Lugo di Romagna, Consorzio In Bassa Romagna.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has also given its Patronage and now promotes the docu-film through the network of diplomatic and cultural representations in the world.
“I cacciatori del cielo” embraces universal themes such as friendship, love, courage and self-sacrifice. The story is told through the exploits of three men: Major Francesco Baracca (who would become the main ace of Italian aviation), Captain Ruggero Piccio (who would later become the first Chief of Staff of the Air Force), and Bartolomeo Piovesan, a simple mechanic from humble social background, who was in charge of the maintenance of Baracca’s plane. The actual fiction combines precious archival material, both vintage photos and films and original animations.
Giuseppe Fiorello interprets Francesco Baracca, the direction is by Mario Vitale.
Some scenes of the docu-film were shot in Lugo di Romagna, Baracca’s hometown, in the Francesco Baracca Museum. Inaugurated in 1926 in memory of the ace of aviation and today housed in Francesco's birthplace, it is a particularly evocative place that hosts his SPAD VII S2489 fighter, as well as memorabilia, objects belonged to the hero and documents of the time.
Giuseppe Fiorello and the crew had also visited the monument to Baracca which characterizes the main square, a metaphysical masterpiece made in 1936 by sculptor from Faenza Domenico Rambelli, and the family’s grave chapel in the monumental part of the city cemetery, designed in 1923 by another artist from Romagna, Roberto Sella.
Lugo is among the centres affected by the recent flood. The Baracca Museum was also damaged, but the water spared the plane, and the museum reopened on May 30.
I cacciatori del cielo has already been introduced in the United States, in Scottsdale (June 7), with a screening organized by the Honorary Consulate of Italy in Arizona in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles.
Among the next appointments, the screenings organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin (June 22) and by the Italian Cultural Institute in Montreal (June 29).