We Can Do That (2008) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A cooperative transforms institutionalized patients into active workers while confronting the emotional and ethical cost of social reintegration.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

From Ideology to Responsibility

Nello is punished for his market-oriented book and transferred to Cooperative 180. His initial friction with the members forces him to reconsider how the cooperative should function.

Key Events

• Nello Faces Political Backlash — Nello is attacked by his comrades after writing a book about the market world. Characters: Nello Location: Milan
• Transfer to Cooperative 180 — Nello is transferred to a cooperative serving patients discharged from mental hospitals. Characters: Nello Location: Cooperative 180
• Friction with the Members — Nello initially struggles to connect with the cooperative's members. Characters: Nello Location: Cooperative 180
• The Cooperative Assembly — An assembly considers how the members can participate more actively in cooperative life. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: Cooperative 180
• Choosing Parquet Work — The cooperative decides to leave care work and enter the market as parquet installers. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: Cooperative 180

Building a Working Cooperative

The members decide to enter the parquet market and assign roles based on personal abilities. Their first failure tests whether the cooperative can survive outside institutional care.

Key Events

• Choosing Parquet Work — The cooperative decides to leave care work and enter the market as parquet installers. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: Cooperative 180
• Roles Match Abilities — Each member is assigned a role according to individual characteristics and abilities. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: Cooperative 180
• First Job Fails — The cooperative's first parquet job fails because the members lack experience. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: First job site
• Atelier Contract Arrives — The cooperative obtains a contract to install flooring in a high-fashion atelier. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: High-fashion atelier
• The Wood Runs Out — On the delivery deadline, the cooperative discovers that its wood supply is insufficient. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: High-fashion atelier

Art Saves the Contract

A high-fashion atelier offers a major opportunity, but the wood runs out before delivery. Gigio and Luca transform scraps into a star panel, turning a crisis into commercial success.

Key Events

• The Wood Runs Out — On the delivery deadline, the cooperative discovers that its wood supply is insufficient. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: High-fashion atelier
• The Star Panel — Gigio and Luca use scraps to create a star panel covering the remaining floor. Characters: Gigio, Luca Location: High-fashion atelier
• Success Brings New Contracts — The panel is highly appreciated, and the cooperative begins receiving more contracts. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: Cooperative 180
• Nello Challenges Medication Levels — Nello argues that the members' medication dosages should be reduced. Characters: Nello Location: Cooperative 180
• Move to a New Location — With European Union funds and medical support, the cooperative moves to a new location. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: New cooperative location

Love, Humiliation, and Loss

As the cooperative expands, Gigio develops romantic feelings. A humiliating party, Luca's fight, and Gigio's rejection culminate in Gigio's suicide.

Key Events

• Move to a New Location — With European Union funds and medical support, the cooperative moves to a new location. Characters: Nello, Gigio, Luca Location: New cooperative location
• Gigio Falls in Love — Gigio develops romantic feelings for a girl connected to one of the cooperative's jobs. Characters: Gigio Location: Work setting
• The Humiliating Party — Gigio and Luca attend a party where the guests laugh at them. Characters: Gigio, Luca Location: Party house
• The Party Fight — Luca loses control and starts a small fight after the humiliation. Characters: Gigio, Luca Location: Party house
• The Police Station Revelation — Gigio overhears that his romantic gesture was treated as insignificant and feels deeply rejected. Characters: Gigio Location: Police station
• Gigio Dies by Suicide — Gigio commits suicide, and the tragedy is partly attributed to the major reduction in medication. Characters: Gigio, Nello Location: Cooperative community

Work After the Tragedy

The members return to the old site and Nello fears legal consequences. Recognition of the cooperative's improvements allows him to resume leadership and pursue a major Paris contract.

Key Events

• Return to the Old Site — The members return to the old site under medical supervision, while Nello fears imprisonment. Characters: Nello Location: Old Cooperative 180 site
• Nello Loses Hope — Nello believes Gigio's death may end his leadership and destroy the cooperative's progress. Characters: Nello Location: Old Cooperative 180 site
• Work Is Recognized — Medical evaluation acknowledges that Nello's work produced improvements previously considered impossible. Characters: Nello Location: Old Cooperative 180 site
• Nello Returns to Leadership — After hesitation, Nello resumes directing the cooperative. Characters: Nello Location: Cooperative 180
• Paris Contract — The cooperative receives a major contract to decorate stations of a new Paris underground line. Characters: Nello, Luca Location: Paris underground line
• A Sustainable Future — Six months later, Nello manages the group while maintaining his relationship with Sara. Characters: Nello, Sara Location: Cooperative project

Story Breakdown

• Nello's Forced Transfer — Political backlash sends Nello into a new and difficult social environment.
  • Market Book Backlash — Nello is attacked by his comrades after writing about the market world.
  • Cooperative Assignment — He is transferred to Cooperative 180 and meets its members.
• A New Cooperative Vision — Nello tries to replace passive care with meaningful participation.
  • Assembly Decision — The members discuss how to change the cooperative's purpose.
  • Individual Roles — Work is organized around each member's characteristics and abilities.
• Entering the Market — The cooperative takes the risky step of becoming a parquet-installation business.
  • First Job Failure — Inexperience causes the first professional project to fail.
  • Atelier Opportunity — A high-fashion atelier gives the group a larger contract.
• The Star Panel Breakthrough — A material shortage becomes the opportunity for creative recognition.
  • Wood Shortage — The team discovers that the available wood cannot finish the floor.
  • Scrapwood Solution — Gigio and Luca create a star panel from leftover scraps.
• Expansion and Treatment Conflict — Commercial success brings institutional and medical disagreements.
  • More Contracts — The successful panel helps the cooperative obtain additional work.
  • Medication Dispute — Nello argues for reducing medication, creating a serious conflict over care.
• Gigio's Emotional Collapse — Personal rejection and public humiliation undermine the cooperative's apparent progress.
  • Romantic Hope — Gigio develops feelings for a girl connected to his work.
  • Party Humiliation — Gigio and Luca are mocked, and Luca responds with violence.
  • Fatal Rejection — Gigio overhears that his romantic experience was treated as insignificant and later dies by suicide.
• Rebuilding Through Work — After the tragedy, Nello confronts guilt and returns to constructive leadership.
  • Return to the Old Site — The members are brought back to the former cooperative location.
  • Recognition of Progress — The work is acknowledged as having produced major improvements.
  • Paris Contract — The revived cooperative receives a large underground-station decoration contract.
• Work and Personal Balance — Nello reaches a more sustainable form of leadership without abandoning Sara.
  • Managing the Group — Six months later, Nello continues managing the nearly completed project.
  • Maintaining Sara's Support — Nello preserves his relationship with Sara despite earlier disagreements.

Directed by

Giulio Manfredonia

Key Cast

• Claudio Bisio — Nello
• Anita Caprioli — Sara
• Andrea Bosca — Gigio
• Giovanni Calcagno — Luca
• Michele De Virgilio — Niki