'Vincere': A Film Explores Mussolini's Family Drama

Ed Koch Mar 29 2010, 3:05 PM ET

Offside

Vincere is a docudrama portraying the events surrounding Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi) in his youth, beginning in 1907 when he was a member of the Socialist Party.

Mussolini was a revolutionary when he met Ida Dalser (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), who saved him from the police. They had a hot-and-heavy affair and married. He supported the war against Germany and broke with the Socialist Party, which opposed going to war in 1914. For unexplained reasons, Mussolini left Ida and wed Rachele (Michela Cescon). Ida spent the rest of her life trying to get him to recognize her as his wife and their son as his heir. Mussolini's response to her drives her into a mental institution.

Although Timi looks nothing like Mussolini, he makes him come alive on the screen. Timi also portrays Mussolini's son, Benito Albino, as an adult who also ends up in a mental institution.

This film received rave reviews from most critics. It is good and worth seeing but not great.

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Ed Koch was mayor of NYC from 1978 to 1989. He's credited with restoring fiscal stability to the city and creating affordable housing. He's also a film buff. More

Mayor Koch saved New York City from bankruptcy and restored the pride of New Yorkers during his three terms as mayor from 1978-1989. He restored fiscal stability by placing the city on a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) balanced budget. He created a housing program that provided more than 150,000 units of affordable housing and created New York City's first merit judicial selection system. Prior to being mayor, Mr. Koch served for nine years as a congressman and two years as a member of the New York City Council. He attended City College of New York from 1941 to 1943. He was drafted into the Army his last year of college and served with the 104th Infantry Division. He received two battle stars and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1946. He received his LL.B. degree from the New York University School of Law in 1948 and began to practice law immediately thereafter. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP and hosts a call-in radio program on Bloomberg AM 1130 (WBBR). Mr. Koch appears weekly on NY1 television and is the author of ten autobiographical books.