I was looking for Italian films and came across a documentary entitled My Italian Secret. It is about Italian Jews and Italian refugees from other parts of Europe, from the time of Mussolini through German occupation and Allied liberation. They interview elderly people who return to the small Italian villages to thank the families of those who helped save them. I found it fascinating because I didn't know to what extent common Italians risked their lives for strangers of another faith. You always hear jokes about the Italians surrendering, the inference being they were cowards...but it seems that many Italians risked their lives, and many were captured, tortured and killed for hiding Jewish families. So their strength lies in the fact that they give no glory to giving their lives for a political cause they don't believe in, but they took dangerous gambles to help human beings in need. A good lesson for current times. This was a very informative documentary.
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My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes
2014
Documentary / History / Sport / War
My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes
2014
Documentary / History / Sport / War
Plot summary
MY ITALIAN SECRET tells a heroic story that was all but lost to history, until now. The film recounts how WWII bicycling idol Gino Bartali, physician Giovanni Borromeo and other Italians worked with Jewish leaders and high-ranking officials of the Catholic Church, risking their lives by defying the Nazis to save thousands of Italy's Jews.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Movie Reviews
Informative documentary about Jewish plight in Italy during WWII
cycling fan or not you'll love this story
I have been a cyclist for over 50 years and also love to watch good WWII history documentaries and this one is perfect for me.I sometimes feel I did not do anything to serve my country but this generation like my father, his family and my wife's family were all heros no matter what they did. And Gino Bartali has a great story that we all did not know this until just a few years ago. I think if this film was shown in high school history classes young people would have more appreciation for our history. PLEASE watch this touching story.
great movie
Gino, thank you so much for your movie. You was in Cinema Village theater when me and my wife saw it. We were too moved to talk about to you. Since then, I think about it every day. I thank to all Italian people who helped Jews, children, families in the face of biggest genocide in history. Yes, Italian people are real heroes! While I always was sympathetic to Italy, love the language, traditions, county I am particular glad to learn that the people and country which I always loved are also great humanists and my heroes.
Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to all Italians, the country, to you for your movie. You, all people who helped to Jews, generations of their children will be blessed.