Gino: A Child of War

GINO: A Child of War is an awe-inspiring docudrama that sheds light on the boundless hope and resilience of the human spirit amid the chaos of war. The film narrates the incredible true story of Gino Farnetti, a five-year-old boy discovered frightened, hungry, and wandering amidst the war-torn ruins of Torrice, Italy, in 1944, by compassionate Canadian soldiers. For the next nine months, Gino found shelter, nourishment, and care among his Canadian guardians. A special bond formed between Gino and a pair of soldiers, Lloyd Oliver and Mert Massey, and this film portrays their remarkable relationship and the untold story that connects them. GINO: A Child of War is a testament to survival and the embodiment of the “Canadian Way”. Over 90,000 Canadian soldiers served in the Sicilian & Italian Campaigns for almost two years. I will present a brief synopsis of the Italian Campaign and the important part Canadian soldiers played breaking through every defensive line as they battled Hitler's regime all the way up the boot. Canadians took care of the defenceless civilians as best they could every step of the way and the story of Gino is a perfect example of the kindness they brought into a theatre of war.