Where Am I Going? (2016) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A privileged public servant gradually exchanges guaranteed employment for love, family responsibility, and a life of practical service.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Last Permanent Man

Checco enjoys the security and privileges of a guaranteed public-sector job. Reformist plans to reduce bureaucracy threaten his comfortable position, but he refuses the offered buyout.

Key Events

• Privileged Apulian Childhood — Checco grows up in relative comfort among his peers in Apulia. Characters: Checco Location: A small town in Apulia
• The Guaranteed Public Job — Checco obtains a permanent public-service position with secure pay and benefits. Characters: Checco Location: A public-sector workplace
• Reform Threatens Bureaucracy — A reformist government begins reducing bureaucracy and targeting public employees for buyouts. Characters: Checco Location: Government offices
• Refusing the Buyout — Checco refuses to resign and insists on retaining his guaranteed public-sector status. Characters: Checco Location: Government offices

Exile Without Resignation

Checco is transferred through increasingly unpleasant postings as officials try to make him quit. He repeatedly adapts and remains committed to keeping his permanent employment.

Key Events

• First Punishing Transfer — Checco is sent to an increasingly unpleasant posting but continues his familiar antics. Characters: Checco Location: A remote public-sector posting
• Making Do Anywhere — Checco repeatedly finds ways to make the worst assignments tolerable without surrendering his job. Characters: Checco Location: Another remote posting
• The Last Holdout — Checco becomes the last resilient employee resisting the government's pressure to resign. Characters: Checco Location: A public-sector workplace
• Arctic Appointment — Checco is appointed as a hunter protecting an Italian arctic research team. Characters: Checco Location: An Italian arctic research station

Love In The Arctic

The arctic research station becomes Checco's harshest assignment. Meeting Valeria gives him an unexpected emotional reason to stay and opens him to a different way of life.

Key Events

• Arctic Appointment — Checco is appointed as a hunter protecting an Italian arctic research team. Characters: Checco Location: An Italian arctic research station
• Meeting Valeria — Checco meets Valeria, a coworker at the arctic station. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: The arctic research station
• Love Changes His Decision — Although Checco initially wants to resign, falling in love with Valeria changes his decision. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: The arctic research station
• Visiting Norway — During vacation, Checco visits Valeria in Norway and discovers that she has three children. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Valeria's home in Norway

Between Norway And Italy

Checco admires Norway's progressive culture but becomes depressed and homesick during winter. He and Valeria move to Italy, where their contrasting expectations create new pressure.

Key Events

• Discovering Norwegian Life — Checco becomes enchanted by Norway's politeness and progressive, eco-centric society. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Norway
• Homesick In Winter — The winter depresses Checco, who misses Italian cuisine and culture despite admiring Norway. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Norway
• Moving Back To Italy — Checco and Valeria manage to move to Italy together. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Italy
• Italian Adjustment Struggle — Valeria struggles with an Italian living situation requiring compromises and bribery. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Italy
• Valeria Leaves Italy — Fed up with the situation, Valeria leaves Italy. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Italy

A Different Kind Of Security

Valeria leaves Italy, and Checco regains his hometown position. Pregnancy news draws him to South Africa, where he must choose between permanent employment and family responsibility.

Key Events

• Valeria Leaves Italy — Fed up with the situation, Valeria leaves Italy. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: Italy
• Restored Permanent Position — After Valeria leaves, Checco receives his permanent position back in his hometown. Characters: Checco Location: Checco's hometown
• Pregnancy News — Checco learns that Valeria is pregnant with his child in South Africa. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: South Africa
• Choosing Fatherhood — Checco travels to South Africa, but Valeria objects to his attempt to combine fatherhood with the secure job. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: South Africa
• A New Life Of Service — Checco gives up his secure job, uses compensation to buy vaccines, and becomes Valeria's helper. Characters: Checco, Valeria Location: An African medical camp

Story Breakdown

• Privileged Beginnings — Checco's comfortable upbringing and permanent public job establish his attachment to security.
  • Apulian Comfort — Checco is raised in relative comfort in a small town of Apulia.
  • Guaranteed Employment — His public-service position provides secure pay, benefits, and lifetime employment.
• Reformist Pressure — Government downsizing threatens Checco's preferred way of life and tests his resistance.
  • Buyout Offer — Targeted employees are offered money in exchange for resignation.
  • Final Holdout — Checco refuses to surrender his permanent public-sector status.
• Punishing Postings — Successive assignments are intended to erode Checco's determination, but he keeps adapting.
  • Remote Assignments — Checco is sent to increasingly unpleasant public-sector locations.
  • Arctic Transfer — He is appointed as a hunter at an Italian arctic research station.
• Arctic Romance — The harshest posting introduces Valeria and gives Checco a personal reason not to resign.
  • Meeting Valeria — Checco and Valeria meet as coworkers at the arctic station.
  • Love Over Security — Checco changes his decision to resign after falling in love with Valeria.
• Norwegian Culture Clash — Checco discovers a progressive society while confronting homesickness and incompatible expectations.
  • Three Children — Checco visits Valeria in Norway and learns that she has three children.
  • Italian Homesickness — Norwegian winter depresses Checco, who misses Italian cuisine and culture.
• Italian Breakdown — Their move to Italy exposes the practical compromises that Valeria cannot accept.
  • Return To Italy — Checco and Valeria manage to relocate to Italy together.
  • Valeria Leaves — Valeria leaves after struggling with the demanding Italian living situation.
• Family Over Security — Pregnancy forces Checco to decide whether permanent employment or family responsibility defines his future.
  • South African Pregnancy — Checco learns that Valeria is pregnant with his child in South Africa.
  • Medical Aid — He gives up his secure job and uses the compensation to buy vaccines.
• A New Purpose — Checco abandons his former definition of success and begins supporting Valeria in Africa.
  • Leaving The Posto Fisso — Checco chooses to let go of his guaranteed public-sector position.
  • Helping Valeria — He restarts his life as Valeria's helper in South Africa.

Directed by

Gennaro Nunziante

Key Cast

• Checco Zalone — Checco
• Eleonora Giovanardi — Valeria
• Sonia Bergamasco — Dottoressa Sironi
• Ludovica Modugno — Caterina
• Maurizio Micheli — Peppino