An Italian submarine captain defied orders from fascist authorities to save enemy sailors after his crew sank their vessel.

This is a serious World War II drama directed by Edoardo de Angelis, based on a true story that highlights the honorable actions of non-fascist Italians during the Battle of the Atlantic. The film was created with the support of the Italian navy and was featured as the opening gala at last year's Venice Film Festival after Luca Guadagnino's Challengers was pulled due to the writers' strike.

Pierfrancesco Favino stars as submarine commander Salvatore Todaro, whose unwavering bravery and poetic sensitivity earn him deep loyalty from his crew. Throughout the film, he struggles with a back injury, which is treated at the start. The careless doctors place him in a rough corset, remarking, “Fascism is pain.” (Perhaps that’s true, but it seems to be pain inflicted on others, doesn’t it?).