Comandante (Spanish Edition)

A Story of Humanity Amidst War: The Rescue of an Italian Hero, Commander Salvatore Todaro

On September 28, 1940, the Italian Fascist Navy's submarine Cappellini departed the port of La Spezia, bound for the Atlantic via Gibraltar. Commanding the vessel was the veteran Commander Salvatore Todaro, a man whose chest was covered in a steel armor due to old combat wounds.

During their mission, the crew sighted a Belgian ship, the Kabalo. A naval battle ensued, and the submarine sank the enemy vessel. After a while, they saw several surviving crew members appear. Despite explicit orders from German Admiral Dönitz not to rescue them, Todaro decided to defy his superiors and prioritize the law of the sea, which mandates the rescue of shipwrecked individuals, over military regulations.

This act of compassion transforms Todaro into a hero who connects the past to our present, where rescue ships frequently save migrants at sea, only to be denied the right to disembark in the ports of the authorities who wish to avoid the issue. This parallel is what led Sandro Veronesi to accept the request of filmmaker Edoardo De Angelis to collaborate on the screenplay for his upcoming film about Todaro's figure.

In parallel, the two authors co-wrote a novelistic version, constructed through a succession of voices that recount the noble gesture of the commander. The resulting narrative can be read, in the context of the migration crisis plaguing the Mediterranean waters and the consequent wave of xenophobia that Veronesi denounces in the introduction, as a vindication of the human values that must prevail over barbarity, as well as a celebration of the figure of Todaro, unjustly forgotten in the pages of our history.

This story serves as a powerful reminder that even in the midst of war, the inherent humanity within us can shine through, as exemplified by Todaro's courageous decision to rescue the stranded Belgian sailors, despite facing potential consequences for disobeying orders. It highlights the timeless struggle between the dehumanizing forces of conflict and the enduring compassion that can unite us as a species, transcending borders and ideologies.

Through the collaborative efforts of Veronesi and De Angelis, Todaro's story has been brought to life, serving as a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring power of human dignity. In a world grappling with the ongoing challenges of migration and humanitarian crises, this narrative reminds us of the importance of prioritizing our shared values of empathy, courage, and the fundamental right to be rescued, regardless of one's nationality or circumstance.

product information: