Here’s why ‘Money Heist”s “Bella Ciao” is the song for our age
Anyone familiar with Italian history knows the protest folk song “Bella Ciao”. Initially used by paddy field workers to protest conditions in the 19th century, it was rewritten and used for the Italian Resistance protesting Nazi Germans during World War 2. The song has staying power, used as a hymn to protest fascism, promoting the resistance.
The Professor and Berlin’s father was a strong believer in the Italian Resistance as his father fought in it, as the backstory for “Bella Ciao”’s use in Money Heist goes. The song has had a resurgence since the Spanish Netflix show’s first season, as a variety of versions of the protest song has appeared throughout the show’s four parts.
But using “Bella Ciao” in Money Heist is far from a coincidence. The world we live in now is full of protests and people fighting against the forces of fascism. Just looking at the examples of the song in Money Heist should show you how it represents our present-day issues.
Berlin and the Professor singing before the heist
Cut in between the police finding their home at the end of part one, the first major instance we see of “Bella Ciao” is the two half-brothers singing together before their heist. Considering the heist is in tribute to their deceased father who stole to try and live a good life for his children, they fight to defend their father’s image.
Moscow discovers dirt
A big symbol of “Bella Ciao” is freedom, and the minute Moscow digs far enough in the vault to find dirt, they know freedom is close. Conveniently, the song also comes on the radio at the same time, and he and Denver sing, like the rest of the group, comes together to celebrate once they hear the commotion.
As the cops discover the robbers got away
Right as it looks like the gang is too close to get away from the cops before they get to the hangar, it turns out they made it in the nick of time. Like the Professor tells Raquel, they’re not doing anything that the banks don’t do, so why are they treated as terrorists when the bank is allowed to do it? Their freedom is well deserved.
How you can use it now
As people sit in quarantine trying to find some sense of peace, a German neighborhood sang “Bella Ciao” from their roofs and balconies, trying to bring some hope and unity to their Italian neighbors struggling through the quarantine. Italians have been doing the same, trying to remind each other that this is the best way to resist the virus and save each other.
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