I really didn't know what to expect considering this piece is from a relatively unknown. The synopsis was intriguing and the film didn't dissapoint.
At school, the curriculum in regards to the Second World War, focused predominately on our conflict with Hitler and Germany. I can't recall any teaching regarding our war with Mussolini and Italy. It's certainly an important aspect, particularly concerning 'Enemy Aliens' and their internments in Britain.
TV dramas Foyle's War and Home Fires, have touched on this. However, it hasn't, to my knowledge, previously taken centre stage.
What's more, it wasn't until Enemy of the Heart, I became aware of The Arandora Star. This lead me to investigate the plight of those innocent souls who lost their lives, which brought me to the families' memorial pages on social media and the annual events which continue to this day, in memory of those who perished more than 80 years ago.
The Cipriani family living in Liverpool during Mussolini's union with Hitler in June 1940, brings home the plight of these families, considered a threat to national security, interned and shipped to Canada and Australia.
The scene with Gio Cipriani and his young family in the middle of the night, is heart-breaking. I initially thought the midnight setting was for aesthetic purposes with the moonlight reflecting the shadows of the imposing police officers approaching the family home. It wasn't until I researched afterwards, I discovered children now in their 90s, whose fathers were taken from their homes at night and in the early hours by police due to being considered a threat to national security. These children never saw their fathers again. A BBC documentary narrated by actor Tom Conti, is well worth a listen on this.
Overall, Enemy of the Heart is a visually beautiful film. The cast portray their characters truthfully and the plot is both educational and enjoyable. The subject matter is something schools should consider in the curriculum, as the Italians contributed significantly to our homefront with their expertise in cuisine, music and architecture. You only have to look in major cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and London to name a few, whose architecture comes from Italy. Their contribution to Britain is immense.
