Radio Arrow (1998) User Reviews

Province life

[michelerealini · 8/10 · 11 October 2005]

"Radiofreccia" is still a good surprise in Italian cinema. The film is based on a book of Italian songwriter Luciano Ligabue, who also directs the movie and writes the music score -of course.

The film is a portrait of north Italian province life, in the Emilia Romagna region. We're in 1975, the time of the first free radios -one of the boys of the movie creates "Radioraptus". Youth wishes, friendship, love, sex, individual dramas and unemployment are among the themes, but the film speaks also about drugs -Freccia, the main character, is a victim of heroin slavery.

Without being boring and moralist, the story flows very well; the spontaneity of actors is strong and the way of directing as well. Obviously Luciano "Liga" Ligabue is neither Fellini nor a movie professional, first of all he's a musician. But he succeeds in making a good product. Unfortunately he'll not repeat the success with his second movie "Da zero a dieci" -not good at all.

In "Radiofreccia" actors are generally not very famous, the only star is Stefano Accorsi -one of the most popular young Italian actors. See in a small role another Italian songwriter -Francesco Guccini, he's the nice communist barman and football trainer!

RADIO RAPTUS INTERNATIONAL

[Mizz_dynamitee · 6/10 · 3 January 2004]

I am not Italian, however have watched the film and enjoyed it. I lived in Italy for several years and had the opportunity to observe the culture and the people of different regions.

I am a great Accorsi fan and have watched most of the films he has been involved with, I have to add that he is an underrated actor and ought to be hitting it high by becoming internationally based.

The film RadioFreccia reflects the true lives of the young italians living in the north of the country at that time as well as today. With the effects of religion, politics, unemployment and social exclusion the country seems to be cornering the young italians in exactly this way. There is nothing for them to do.. Hence the communist movement among the Northern Younger generation: drugs, assault, violence, sexuality, drug abuse, satanic rituals are amongst the daily lives of these people. Emilio Reggio being the heart of these acts.

Parallel to this the film represents the obstacles that young italians face; the family pressure and the religion.

I stand up and applaud Ligabue for magnificent and accurate storytelling

Life for radio and radio for life

[sperman · 8/10 · 15 May 2003]

Nice movie with a great soundtrack which spans through the rock landscape of the 70's and 80's. Radiofreccia describes a generation, it describes life in a small village near Correggio (hometown of Ligabue, the singer who wrote the book that inspired the movie), it describes life of young people and their problems relating to the world. It reminds of Trainspotting, with a bit of Italian touch.

A movie about all of us

[mauddib25 · 9/10 · 5 March 2005]

Radiofreccia is a movie about all of us, about our dreams, our friends, our obsessions, our addictions, our fears. It is a brilliant movie where a group of friends like all of us have lives through the hardships of growing up in a small town in one of the most significant decades in the last century. The movie doesn't take a happy or sad approach on things, it just tells us a story, one that all of us could have experienced. One of happiness and excitement, sadness and grief. The power of this story is in that we grow to love the characters, it is one of those movies you will watch over and over again, feeling closer to the little town in Emilia Romagna where it takes place. Hoping one day to be able to finally walk its streets next to Freccia and his friends, listening to the music that changed the world through the crackling sound of an old radio playing Radio Raptus International, playing their dreams, our dreams. Radiofreccia will make you laugh, it will make you cry at times, it will shock you and comfort you, it will give you and take from you. Personally I believe it to have played an important part in my life, and that of my friends, and I suggest you all watch it and let it become part of yours.

A fascinating insight in the '70s, revolving around music, friendship, and bittersweet nostalgia

[dani-4 · 9/10 · 10 November 1998]

I would reccomend this film to everyone. Not only to the fans of the rocker Luciano Ligabue, but to all film-buffs. Because it's sincere, moving, funny and true. Because Ligabue is a born storyteller and a film lover, and every frame of his film is made with love and care. Because his characters are loved and ask to be loved. Because most of the Italian debut films are lousy and this one, done by an outsider, is a real joy to watch and to listen at. Because Stefano Accorsi is gorgeous and reminds me of Andrea Pazienza, who was, like Freccia, beautiful and talented and good and lost his life because of the heroin, that Ligabue shows as it is, unglamorous and ugly, without indulging in easy moralisms. Because it's a film that speaks to our heart, our ears, our souls. And because I lived the experience of the FM radios and it was exactly like that. Thanks, Luciano!

Buy Liga's CDs, you can pass on his movie...

[attro · 30 October 1998]

At the end of the day, a useless film. The characters are (except for Freccia) superficial. The first part of the movie is slow, and heroin itself could have been treated in a deeper and more introspective way. Two good reasons for watching the film: The beautiful soundtrack and Guccini's cameo

It makes you think...

[brunombo · 8/10 · 21 December 2001]

...about the importance of being young, having friends, and most of all enjoying life. Through the experience of four friends, Ligabue shows to the audience how life was back in the 70's in a small italian village. the four carachters represent the four different aspects of human behavior; also the drug experience is well represented.

Music and life.....

[rosebud6 · 7 September 1999]

A straight forward picture of our recent past without any pietism. Many people have recognized themselves and recalled "the way we were" ! A good debut of the director.