The Two Parachutists
dir. Lucio Fulci · 1965
Feature
Immigrant Experience
Mood
Comedic / Adventurous
Look
vibrant, colorful cinematography with a playful tone
Structure
episodic misadventures leading to a climactic resolution
Plot
Two penniless Italian buskers want to go to the USA but get on the wrong ship and end up in South America in a concentration camp where they are rescued by American parachutists from. Afterwards they become big shots in the States but their dream comes to an end : they are sent to fight in Vietnam
Why watch
Two penniless Italian buskers, dreaming of the American dream, mistakenly board a ship that lands them in a South American concentration camp. As they navigate absurd situations, their journey becomes a comedic critique of war and cultural dislocation. Watching this film feels like a whimsical ride through the unexpected twists of fate, where laughter and poignant moments coexist.
Cultural context
post-war Italian cinema1960s countercultureAmerican intervention in Vietnamimmigrant narratives in film