TIFF 2024 Review ‘Anywhere Anytime’
Anywhere, Anytime is a dramatic Italian film full of twists and turns about the precarious life of a Senegalese in Turin, Italy directed by Milad Tangshir and starring Ibrahima Sambou as Issa.
Italian films and cinematography have always fascinated me, especially those grounded in the life of the eternal city of Turin. In this film, Turin itself becomes a main character, where the precarity and drama of Issa’s life unfold. Issa, an undocumented worker, toils as a laborer for a day market seller. His job is backbreaking, and he loses it when his employer, fearing trouble, lets him go following a police inspection in the early hours of the morning. Issa hides in the truck when the police arrive and only emerges when it is safe. The first word uttered in the film is “Issa,” grounding the story in his life and situation.
A friend named Mario helps him get set up as a bicycle delivery person, and things start to look up. He even encounters a lovely young woman he previously met at the hostel where he is staying. They share their experiences and humanity during a bicycle ride. The film’s realism shines through as we see Issa making food deliveries, showcasing the city and a cross-section of its inhabitants. However, things take a turn for the worse when his bicycle is stolen. Issa searches for his bike, hoping to find it, but to no avail, until he sees it advertised on a website. His efforts to retrieve it end in disaster, leaving him full of anger and bent on revenge. Like any large city, Turin has its share of misery, poverty, and the ugliness of some citizens who act on their racism. Issa’s experiences serve as a metaphor for the tragedy that many undocumented workers and refugees face. His exposure to the lowest common denominator of humanity triggers the unhappiness that follows him. Against his better judgment, he acts on his anger leaving someone seriously injured. His actions lead to tragic consequences not only for himself but also for his friend Mario. This subtle and powerful film is full of drama, underscoring the humanity and brutality that many undocumented workers and refugees experience in Italy, with the eternal city as a backdrop for the gravitas of Issa’s life.
If you’re looking for a film that delves into the harsh realities faced by undocumented workers and refugees, I recommend this film, filled with meaning and metaphors. The film powerfully portrays the vulnerability of undocumented workers, highlighting their struggles to survive in a land that offers both kindness and cruelty. It sheds light on the systemic issues that leave them open to exploitation and abuse, making it a compelling and thought-provoking watch.
Watch a clip of Anywhere Anytime below
Screenings for Anywhere Anytime for TIFF times below
Public screeningsTuesday, September 10th at 9:10 pm at Scotiabank 4Wednesday, September 11th at 12:45 pm at Scotiabank 9Sunday, September 15th at 6:00 pm at Scotiabank 6
