The Law Is the Law

Assola is a small village split by the Franco-Italian border, where life on each side intersects at customs and rivalry. The Two Borders Hotel sits precisely on the line, with its Italian and French halves hosting residents and travelers alike. The border is a constant backdrop to the town's daily cat-and-mouse game between Giuseppe and Ferdinand, blending law and everyday life into one ongoing tension.

🧭 Identity

Ferdinand's struggle to establish a stable nationality drives the story, revealing how borders and paperwork can redefine a person’s sense of self. His birth and registration become battlegrounds for belonging, exposing the fragility of citizenship. The eventual discovery that he was born on the French side reshapes his future and his ties to both nations.

⚖️ Borders and Law

The border itself is a character, shaping every decision and arrest. The law’s rigidity creates bureaucratic absurdities, including statelessness and bigamy complications, which the characters navigate with wit and risk. The film satirizes how political boundaries can obstruct personal justice and human connections.

🤝 Friendship

Giuseppe and Ferdinand’s uneasy alliance drives the plot, with Giuseppe helping Ferdinand even as tension grows between them. Trust is tested when Ferdinand suspects betrayal, yet their shared history and dependence pull them back from a final collapse. The dynamic reveals loyalty’s power to bridge, or fracture, two rival sides.