Shadow Song

DESCRIPTION:

In 1943 Rome is occupied by the Germans.
Francesca, an art student, meets Giorgio, a singer, who finds her work at Rome’s opera house. Later, Francesca learns that Giorgio supplies forged documents to the Italian resistance. She joins his group as a forger but attracts the attention of a policeman, Trabosco, who works for the Germans.
Carlo, an army doctor, fled Rome to escape arrest but is sent back by allied intelligence. His father, Michele, is also a doctor and Carlo joins Michele’s medical practice.
Carlo visits a patient at the opera house, Alberto, the star tenor. Outside, Carlo sees his old love, Lissa. She tries to run away and later tells him that she is watched.
Carlo joins the resistance, transmitting intelligence and helping fugitives to safety. He uses documents supplied by Giorgio and Francesca.
Giorgio is arrested during a rehearsal, as Francesca and Carlo look on. They join forces with Michele and Alberto to rescue him, but Trabosco is on their trail.

COMPARATIVE FILM/BOOK:

All the Light We Cannot See, Schindler's List , Les Misérables with Paris replaced by Rome a century later. A city in turmoil, where people work, fight, dream and love.

CASTING:

Francesca is a 20-year-old art student: Rachel Zegler. Carlo is a 30-year-old doctor: Luke Pasqualino. Alberto is a pivotal character. He is in his 40s, the star tenor at the opera house, and has unexpected talents. This part could be played by an actor who is not a singer, but I suggest: Juan Diego Flórez.

PRIMARY VENUES/LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BOOK:

The action takes place in Rome. Francesca lives in the centre of the city and works at the opera house. Carlo and his father live on the outskirts of Rome and travel into the centre by tram. Their medical visits take place throughout Rome, including the opera house. Carlo also works part-time at a hospital on the Tiberina Island, close to the centre. The locations in the book remain substantially unchanged since World War II. Please see the book’s website www.natedea.co.uk. The Articles section includes photographs of the main locations. In the book, Carlo briefly recalls his route back to Rome via Ischia. The allied intelligence base in Ischia is now a hotel. There are several photographs of it in the article “The Route to Rome”.

BOOK EXCERPT: