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A Feature film shot in and around Liverpool and Wirral has been collecting multiple awards in festivals around the World.
War-time drama ‘Enemy of the Heart’ has won more than 30 accolades in Rome, Florence, New York, New Jersey, Miami, Cannes, Toronto, Tagore, and London.
Created by Claryn Scott, the production is inspired by true events and centres around an Anglo-Italian family living in Liverpool during the outbreak of war. On 10 June 1940, anti-Italian riots erupted across the UK in response to Benito Mussolin’s allegiance with Adolf Hitler to attack France and Britain.
Overnight, Italians living in Britain were considered a threat to national security and arrested, interned and sent aboard the S.S Arandora Star destined for Canada.
Two days following the ship’s departure from Liverpool, transporting German, Austrian and Italian internees, it was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. More than 800 men lost their lives.
Scenes for the production were filmed in Thurstaston, Neston and Central Liverpool and post-production took place in a recording studio in Upton. The film also features Neston-based actor Derek Herbert as Winston Churchill.
Child lead, Jack O’Connor has received several Best Child Actor accolades for his portrayal of Luca Cipriani, a young Liverpool boy facing prejudice when his Italian father is interned as an Enemy Alien.
The film received ten accolades at Rome International Movie Awards which was particularly poignant considering the sensitive content.
Directed by Claryn Scott, Jay Podmore and Jason L.Ricketts, the film’s cast includes Mattia Paradiso, Julia Ross, Joseph Stanley, Lucy Wareing, Michael Dolan and Jack O’Connor.
Speaking about the awards, Claryn said, “The entire team is overwhelmed with how well-received the film has been, especially in Italy. The internment of the Italian people in Britain is still painful for the families who lost loved ones and it means so much to receive approval world-wide and especially from the Italian audiences. It’s more than we ever imagined.”
A memorial of the S.S. Arandora Star stands at Liverpool’s Pier Head
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