Synopsis

The animated film Johan Padan - A la descoverta de le Americhe is a free cinematic transposition of Dario Fo's theatre piece. It was the author himself who proposed the idea in 1997, during a walk. It was a coherent proposal made in the spirit of this artist, writer, mime artist, poet, man of popular theatre and popular mask. Now he is a cartoon character, too! (Giulio Cingoli).

At the beginning of the 1500s, a young man form Bergamo, Johan Padan, escaped from a military training camp in Lanzichenecchi. Johan is sweet and kind, but also an egoist, cunning and prepared to do anything in order to survive. After a series of incredible adventures and magical encounters, he ends up in Seville where he embarks on a ship headed for the New World. On reaching Florida, the young man wins the trust of the indigenous population. He teaches the Indians how to rebel against the violence of the Spanish soldiers and in turn learns from them how to become a better man and finally be free.

20 minutes of this movie were shown at the Focus on Europe at Castellinaria 2001.