The retreating SS soldiers rounded up 560 villagers and refugees, mostly women and children, machine-gunned them at the church and burned their bodies. [13] The film later premiered in France at the 34th Deauville American Film Festival on September 10, 2008. Also found is a Purple Heart and a photograph revealing that Negron was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star. After recognizing a customer, Negron shoots and kills the man with a German Luger pistol. Sam grows especially fond of Angelo, becoming the boy's father figure. [2] Following its release in North America, Miracle at St. Anna continued to perform poorly in international markets. Plot Keywords Filming began in Tuscany,[3] where the Tuscan regional government gave Lee permission to film where the actual events took place. Christmas, 1983. The novel Miracle at St. Anna was written by James McBride originating from his late uncle's experiences as a World War II soldier. Sam, Stamps and Bishop are killed in the attack. [2] Under their Own My Own production banner, Cicutto and Musini contributed $8.74 million. McBride, the novel's author, stated: "As a black American, I understand what it's like for someone to tell your history... unfortunately, the history of World War Two here in Italy is ours as well, and this was the best I could do... it is, after all, a work of fiction.”[36], In light of the film's controversy, Lee was awarded honorary citizenship by the mayor of Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Michele Silicani, who defended the film, stating, "It's true that the film depicts a partisan who betrayed civilians. James Verniere of the Boston Herald awarded the film an "A" grade, calling it a "masterpiece" and a "classic American WWII movie that both acknowledges the rousing tradition of such war epics as The Longest Day (1962) and The Big Red One (1980) and adds something new: paying tribute to the World War II African-American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Lee first learned of the novel in 2004 and approached McBride with the idea of a film adaptation. [2] Also contributing to the film's $1.4 million gross in international markets was Bolivia ($9,821), Brazil ($9,821), Lebanon ($3,184), Romania ($1,465), and the United Arab Emirates ($26,492). I interviewed dozens of Italians—Partisans and Fascists. While traveling through the mountains of Tuscany, the soldiers enter a small village where they form a bond with the residents. Set in 1944 Italy, the story of four black American soldiers who get trapped in a Tuscan village during WWII. In Europe, the film's development attracted the attention of Italian film producers Roberto Cicutto and Luigi Musini, who helped finance the $45 million production. The film’s conclusion makes it clear that he will never see the inside of a cell. This film is our interpretation, and I stand behind it." The film was the first by Lee to be shot in Europe, and the director insisted on shooting on locations where the story is set. The film's world premiere was at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2008. Taglines Lee issued a casting call for an Italian child actor. She's very smart and is one of the few people in her village who has learned some English. [10] Touchstone Pictures provided the remainder ($6.26 million), and later released the film in North America. He and Bishop rescue an Italian boy named Angelo from a collapsing building. "[34], Protests were scheduled for the film's Italian premiere in Viareggio, Italy, by unspecified organizations. The retreating SS soldiers rounded up 560 villagers and refugees, mostly women and children, machine-gunned them at the church and burned their bodies. Terence Blanchard composed the film score, marking his twelfth collaboration with Lee. In the village, a beautiful woman, partisans that include a traitor and a local legend, the boy, and the story of a recent massacre connect to the postal worker's anguish forty years later. In their company in a small boy, obviously shell-shocked and feverish, who seems only to speak to his invisible friend Arturo. [1]:2 and 23, The novel Miracle at St. Anna was written by James McBride originating from his late uncle's experiences as a World War II soldier.