Sons of 'Ndrangheta

2019 2h 6m Italian 6.6

Action, Crime, Drama

A nervous young man named Giovanni meets judge Marco Lo Bianco at the ferry, who reassures Giovanni that all will be well with getting him a job far away, and they agree to meet after the New Year. Giovanni's mother and young siblings Domenico and Teresa are preparing to spend Christmas with their fugitive father in a remote bunker. The car carrying the family stops to pick up Giovanni. In the bunker, father Antonio shows young Domenico some guns, then shares Christmas gifts and food with the family. Armed soldiers enter the bunker in search of Antonio, who escapes behind a cabinet. Giovanni stabs a soldier to allow his father time to get away, and he is sentenced to a long prison term. Judge Lo Bianco meets with Giovanni's mother and young siblings, telling them there's nothing now that he can do for Giovanni. Antonio arranges to meet young Domenico at a gelato shop, telling the boy he must grow up fast to become the man of the family, giving him an expensive watch. Fast forward to a teenage Domenico collecting an assault rifle, taking pills when alone to cope. Domenico gets caught with the gun by the carabinieri, leading him to appear before the same judge in court. The judge has studied the family tree, and he realizes that young men like Domenico are trapped by family ties to carry on the 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate there in Calabria. He devises a controversial solution, telling the court that Domenico is to be removed from his family and placed in a home in Messina, Sicily. The family is angered, especially Domenico's mother. Domenico is shocked and later hostile. No family in Messina will agree to foster the teen, according to social worker Maria, so he's sent to a group home with other young men. A willing psychologist, Enrico, agrees to work with Domenico for no charge. When nobody will risk picking Domenico up from his remote protected home, 3 cars are sent with carabinieri to take the teen away.In Messina, Maria and the young men at the group home attempt to welcome Domenico, but he's sullen, refusing to eat or be sociable. Domenico's mother takes his sister Teresa to meet fugitive Antonio, and he discusses her upcoming arranged marriage. She is beginning to question her position now. The judge receives an envelope containing a bullet, a threat he hides from his family. Domenico's psychologist Enrico takes him on a motorcycle ride which helps to build some trust between the two. When it's Domenico's turn to cook, he's lost in the kitchen but refuses help. Instead he shares the food he brought from home, finding and tossing his stash of pills in the process. Domenico and the other residents start to get along together. The judge arrives at the home to tell Domenico that Giovanni is on the way to the hospital after a suicide attempt. Domenico is surprised that he's allowed to visit his brother. Giovanni assures Domenico that the attempt was not serious, just a way to get a change of air. He gives his painkillers to Domenico, who refuses at first but then pockets them. Domenico returns to the group home, where one of the residents finds the pills; Domenico attacks the guy, forcing the other residents to separate the two. Domenico expresses his anger and confusion to the judge, who explains to Maria and Enrico that it's progress, because Domenico needs to see his unhappy life more clearly. On an outing at the beach on a cold, cloudy day, the other residents strip to their underwear to romp in the sea. After some cajoling, Domenico joins them and smiles. Later at the group home, Domenico tells Maria that he wants to study, and he starts to look happier.When Domenico sees an alarming news story about the arrest of one of his father's associates, he lies about a sick grandmother in order to return to the family. Domenico and Teresa are taken to a remote hideaway to meet with father Antonio, who insists only Domenico can receive more guns for the syndicate. Domenico goes to the meeting, but when confronted with the guns alone in a bathroom, he can't carry out the job, abandoning the guns, as well as the watch his father gave him as a boy, and he leaves through a back door. The team nervously waits for his return in Messina, while his sister packs, asking her mother to escape with her. The mother gives Teresa money but doesn't agree to join her daughter. She then visits Giovanni in prison, telling her son that she'll stay as long as he's there. Father Antonio is shown alone in the hideout, looking at the broken watch that Domenico left with the guns.At the group home, Domenico tells the team that he doesn't know himself anymore. The judge says now he's free to choose. Domenico decides to disappear, to go far from Calabria where no one is looking for him. When it's time for him to leave, he hugs the judge. Maria is not there to say goodbye. Domenico is taken to the train station by Enrico. While waiting on the platform, he's surprised by Maria with his sister Teresa, who is going to disappear with him. They hug and look very happy.The judge is looking at his cases with other young men from crime syndicate families when a mother comes to his office door seeking his help to escape.