Watch Magic Alps

Magic Alps is a whimsical short film from 2018, directed by Andrea Brusa and Marco Scotuzzi. The film stars Hassan El Aouni as a refugee from the Middle East who arrives in Italy seeking asylum. He is greeted by an eccentric legal translator, played by Giovanni Storti, who takes on his case despite his lack of credentials. The two men quickly become unlikely friends, with Storti’s character taking on the role of a mentor to the refugee. The pair embarks on a bizarre journey through the Italian countryside, encountering a variety of strange characters along the way.

One of the highlights of the film is the presence of a young girl, played by Camilla Antoniotti, who identifies herself as a “magician”. She believes that she has the power to perform magic tricks, and she is eager to demonstrate her abilities to the refugee and Storti’s character.

As they travel through the countryside, the trio are met with a series of surreal obstacles - from a giant statue of a bear to a herd of cows blocking the road. But for the most part, the film is an intimate character study of the two men, as they navigate their personal struggles and begin to bond over their shared experiences.

The film has a surreal, dreamlike quality to it, with the magical elements used sparingly but effectively to create a sense of whimsy and wonder. The quiet moments between the characters are just as compelling as the more fantastical elements, as the two men come to understand each other’s histories and form a genuine connection.

The story is poignant and timely, touching on issues surrounding immigration, displacement, and the power dynamics that exist between refugees and the legal systems they must navigate. But despite its serious themes, the film is never heavy-handed or preachy - there’s a lightness and humor to the storytelling that keeps it from becoming overly bleak.

At only 23 minutes in length, Magic Alps is a short but impactful film that showcases impressive filmmaking talent. The use of magical realism is particularly notable, adding an element of enchantment to an otherwise grounded story.

The performances are universally excellent, particularly from Hassan El Aouni, whose stoicism and vulnerability are perfectly balanced. The chemistry between the three leads is palpable, and it’s clear that the filmmakers have invested a lot of care and attention into crafting these characters.

Ultimately, Magic Alps is a film that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking, using its unique blend of realism and magic to tell a story that lingers in the mind long after the credits have rolled. It’s a testament to the power of film to create empathy across cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries.

Magic Alps is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 14 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.