Il Capitale Umano is an Italian foreign language film that centers around two families (a rich, privileged family and the a working-class family) who become tied together by an accidental hit and run encounter.
The film focuses on the two families as they deal with a series of events which tie them together.
Il Capitale Umano touches on many themes including the value attributed to human life and speaks to the additional privileges those with money and influence have over others in society.
Synopsis
Il Capitale Umano is set in the suburbs of Milan and follows the story of two families seeking to improve their lives in different ways.
The Bernaschi family is a rich, bourgeois family seeking to increase their self-worth and the Ossola family are struggling to make ends meet with a pair of twins on the way.
The film is separated in four chapters and follows the differing points of view of each other's family members leading up to the Ossolas son getting into a hit and run accident. Prior to the accident both families were brought together with the promise of a real-estate deal that would benefit both parties.
However, the untimely accident ends up tying the two families together in many other unforeseen ways.
We follow all of the characters involved before and after the accident to answer the question of who ran over the Ossola boy and how their families can bounce back from the tragedy.
Without giving away too much, the remainder of the film follows both families as more details are uncovered depicting how the accident happened.
Important Themes
Moreover Il Capitale Umano is a film which was based off of Stephen Amidon's novel Human Capital that was set in Connecticut. The film was understandably made to fit the Northern Italian setting but still stays true to the plotline.
Additionally Il Capitale Umano touches on issues relating to the worth we as a society attribute to people of power and influence compared to those that do not have said privileges.
In other words it is between those that have and those who have not. It is no surprise that with the massive spread of capitalism our society has become more lenient to believe those with wealth and power.
Today celebrities and those with influence are heralded like godly idols in popular culture. As a result many credit those who are well-off with an almost cult-like status, where their statements are perceived as fact. They can do no wrong in the eyes of the many.
There are many examples of said action taking place. For example in late 2016 the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg bought a $100+ million, 700-acre property on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.
But he also went a step further to file hundreds of lawsuits against the Hawaiians who also own land on the island. As it stands Kauii has a rich colonial history as the island has gone through significant physical and cultural changes through both centuries and decades.
Many on the island see Zuckerberg's actions as "the face of neocolonialism" with Zuckerberg's fame and global influence making it okay to essentially buy and own an area of land that is extremely important to Hawaii's culture and heritage.
As seen with the Zuckerberg example, there is also a belief that money can essentially buy anything in our society today. There are countless examples of those with wealth exploiting those who fall under the have not category (but both you and I do not have time to go through that gauntlet).
Many in positions of privilege do as they wish when it comes to their personal lives despite the consequences. Claiming that their fame and money can buy them out of their situation.
It has become an all too familiar tale you hear about big name celebrities and companies getting into hot water by simply paying a fee and putting out an apology to save face.
Il Capitale Umano touches on this aspect of society brilliantly by looking at how both Italian families are effected by a series of harrowing events.
Conclusion
Altogether Il Capitale Umano is a brilliant and compelling film. It takes you on a ride, having you experience events and their after-effects from many different points of view.
The film succeeds in telling a dramatic story which intertwines two very different families; full of twists, stark realities and mystery.
Il Capitale Umano is a film I highly recommend you to watch.
It speaks to very real themes and translates an American story beautifully on an Italian canvas. Complete with standout acting performances from it's whole cast.
