What Is We Can Do That About?
The premise of We Can Do That in 300 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the early 1980s Milan, a wave of social experiment follows the closure of Italy’s state psychiatric hospitals. The city is dotted with cooperatives that aim to give former patients a foothold in ordinary life, and the newly appointed head of one such workshop, Nello, arrives with a blend of activist zeal and economic ambition. Fresh from the trade‑union world, he carries a conviction that healing can be found not in sedation but in purposeful work, and he sets out to reshape the collective’s identity from a place of passive care to an arena of creative production.
The cooperative’s members, each bearing the scars of institutionalization, are encouraged to voice their ideas and assume roles that match their temperaments. Under Nello’s guidance, the group begins to explore market‑oriented projects, discovering a tentative pride in craftsmanship that had long been denied them. The atmosphere hums with a mixture of uncertainty and optimism, as the workshop’s assembly debates how far to push the boundaries between therapy and entrepreneurship.
Tension surfaces in the form of institutional expectations and medical conservatism. Dr. Del Vecchio, the resident physician, represents a cautious approach to treatment, while Dr. Furlan offers a more progressive perspective, hinting at possibilities that stretch beyond the cooperative’s modest walls. The personal lives of the participants—marked by budding friendships, quiet romances, and familial strains—intertwine with the collective’s struggle, creating a tapestry of human connection that feels both intimate and emblematic of larger societal shifts.
The film maintains a tone that balances gritty realism with moments of off‑beat humor, capturing the raw energy of a community in transition. It invites viewers to wonder whether empowerment through work can truly rewrite the narratives of those long left on the margins, and it leaves the future of the cooperative suspended in a state of hopeful anticipation.
What Happens in We Can Do That?
The complete story of We Can Do That, from the first scene to the last, in 479 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 1983 Milan, Nello, Claudio Bisio a trade unionist who has written a book about the market, is severely attacked by his comrades and is transferred to Cooperative 180, one of the many workshops that emerged after Law 180 to accommodate patients discharged from mental hospitals. After an initial clash with the residents, Nello decides to show them the cooperative’s true spirit by giving everyone a meaningful role and a voice in how things run.
Listening to the ideas of all, the assembly votes to shift from traditional care work to market work, with the patients taking on roles as parquet installers. Each person is assigned a task that suits their temperament, and the group starts small. Their first project, born of inexperience, nearly flops, but they don’t give up. Soon they land a contract with a high-fashion atelier, a turning point that proves the value of their approach. When the deadline nears, the wood supply runs dry, so Luca, Giovanni Calcagno and Gigio, Andrea Bosca, pool their artistic talents to craft a large panel depicting a star that covers the entire floor. The bold, creative solution earns widespread praise, and the cooperative’s workload multiplies.
Behind the scenes, Nello recognizes the need to reduce the medication given to the patients, but Dr. Del Vecchio Giorgio Colangeli resists the idea. Nello turns to Dr. Furlan Giuseppe Battiston and, with European Union funds, the cooperative moves to a new location, aiming higher than before. Just as momentum builds, tragedy strikes: Gigio falls for Caterina, a girl he worked for, who invites him and Luca to a party at her home. That night, Caterina’s friends mock them, and Luca’s temper flares into a scuffle. At the police station, Caterina dismisses them, downplaying the kiss that Gigio shared with her, and the incident leaves Gigio vulnerable. In the aftermath, Gigio takes his own life, a consequence that some blame on the drastic drug reductions.
With Gigio gone, the group is pulled back to the old site under Del Vecchio’s supervision. Nello grapples with the fear of prison, yet no charges are brought: Del Vecchio admits he has witnessed remarkable improvements due to the cooperative’s work. The tragedy is attributed in part to the pressures around them and to Del Vecchio’s initial reluctance to collaborate, but the matter closes and Nello, after a moment of hesitation, resumes directing the cooperative. The team soon wins a major contract in Paris to decorate stops on the city’s new underground line, a milestone that signals a brighter future.
Six months later, Nello manages the group with a steadier hand, keeping his partner Sara, played by Anita Caprioli, close despite a few quarrels over fault lines in their relationship. Dr. Furlan continues to bring in new partners with disabilities, expanding the cooperative’s mission and proving that the model can sustain growth while staying true to its inclusive roots.
We Can Do That Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Nello is attacked and transferred to Cooperative 180” to “Six months later: leadership solidifies”. 15 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Nello is attacked and transferred to Cooperative 180
In 1983 Milan, Nello, a trade unionist who wrote a book about the market, is severely attacked by his comrades. He is transferred to Cooperative 180, an institution created for patients discharged from mental hospitals under Law 180. He resolves to involve the residents to understand the cooperative spirit.
When:1983 Where:Milan
- 2
Assembly votes to pivot from care work to market
The residents vote to abandon traditional care tasks and start working as parquet installers. Nello leads a shift toward market-oriented goals, aiming to channel the patients' abilities into production. The decision marks the start of the cooperative's new mission.
When:early phase (1983) Where:Cooperative 180
- 3
Roles assigned within the cooperative
Listening to everyone's ideas, the group assigns roles to each patient based on individual traits. The cooperative reorganizes into a market-oriented production team, with members contributing according to strengths. The aim is to exploit diverse talents for the parquet-installation business.
When:early phase Where:Cooperative 180
- 4
First job reveals inexperience
After the reorganization, the first job proves challenging due to inexperience. The team makes mistakes but learns from them, strengthening their resolve to improve.
When:early phase Where:Milan workshop
- 5
Contract with a high-fashion atelier
The cooperative secures a contract with a prestigious fashion atelier. The residents see an opportunity to prove themselves in a demanding environment. This win marks a turning point for their business prospects.
When:soon after first job Where:Milan atelier
- 6
Wood shortage on delivery day
On the delivery deadline, the required wood runs out. Luca and Gigio improvise with scraps to create a decorative star panel that covers the entire floor. The surprising solution earns praise and expands future opportunities.
When:delivery deadline Where:Milan workshop
- 7
Star panel boosts the cooperative
The star panel gains admiration and draws in more contracts for the cooperative. The innovative use of waste materials demonstrates their adaptability and creativity.
When:shortly after the workshop success Where:Milan
- 8
Drug reduction debated; new support emerges
Nello recognizes the need to taper drug dosages for the patients but faces strong opposition from Dr. Del Vecchio. He begins to rely on Dr. Furlan and EU funds to support their work.
When:mid-stage Where:Medical planning / clinic
- 9
EU-backed move to a new site
With Dr. Furlan's help and EU funds, the partners move to a new location to continue their work with reduced drug support. The move marks a new chapter and expansion of their operations.
When:after securing funds Where:New site
- 10
Gigio and Caterina; party and social tension
Gigio falls in love with Caterina, who invites him and Luca to a party at her house. Caterina's friends laugh at them, triggering tension and a small fight. The event strains relationships within the group.
When:late phase Where:Caterina's house
Show the other 5 events of We Can Do That Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Police station confrontation
At the police station, Caterina belittles the group, calling them poor things and downplaying the kiss they shared. The moment foreshadows the emotional collapse that follows.
When:after the party Where:Police station
- 12
Gigio's suicide and its aftermath
As a result of the humiliation and the drug-reduction issue, Gigio commits suicide. The event shatters the group and leads to intense self-recrimination, with blame aimed at multiple parties including Del Vecchio.
When:aftermath of party Where:Near the police scene
- 13
Return to the old site with Del Vecchio's aid
The patients are moved back to the old site with Del Vecchio's assistance. Nello loses hope, fearing prison, but Del Vecchio's admission of improvements helps clear him. The incident effectively closes the case.
When:after Gigio's death Where:Old site
- 14
Paris contract reinforces new direction
The cooperative wins a large contract in Paris to decorate stops on the new underground line. The Paris project represents a significant opportunity and validates their new business direction.
When:after old-site incident Where:Paris
- 15
Six months later: leadership solidifies
Six months after starting the Paris project, Nello manages the group more effectively, balancing leadership with his relationship with Sara. Dr. Furlan brings in new partners with disabilities, signaling continued growth and inclusion.
When:six months later Where:Paris
Who Are the Main Characters in We Can Do That?
7 characters, among them Nello (Claudio Bisio), Gigio (Andrea Bosca) and Caterina (Maria Rosaria Russo): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- N(
Nello (Claudio Bisio)
Played by Claudio Bisio
A trade unionist who becomes the driving force behind Cooperative 180, steering patients into work rather than just care. He navigates internal resistance, ethical questions about treatment, and personal doubt as tragedy tests his leadership.
- 🧭 Leadership
- 🧩 Innovator
- 🗳️ Social reform
-
Gigio (Andrea Bosca)
Played by Andrea Bosca
An artistically gifted patient whose talent helps the cooperative win contracts. He falls for Caterina, and the party night becomes a turning point that leads to tragedy. His suicide exposes the fragility beneath the reform movement.
- 🎨 Artist
- 💔 Tragedy
- 🧭 Romantic
- C(
Caterina (Maria Rosaria Russo)
Played by Maria Rosaria Russo
The young woman Gigio is drawn to; at a house party, her friends mock the couple, highlighting social stigma. Her dismissive attitude contributes to Gigio’s heartbreak, illustrating how judgment can derail attempts at reintegration.
- 💬 Social pressure
- 👗 Class & Judgment
- DD
Dr. Del Vecchio (Giorgio Colangeli)
Played by Giorgio Colangeli
A doctor who opposes reducing drug dosages initially, embodying medical conservatism. He ultimately acknowledges improvements brought by the cooperative, playing a complex role in the tension between care and autonomy.
- 🧪 Medical ethics
- 🧠 Authority
- 🤝 Collaboration
- DF
Dr. Federico Furlan (Giuseppe Battiston)
Played by Giuseppe Battiston
A physician ally who supports the new approach and helps secure European funds, enabling expansion and the Paris project. He acts as a pragmatic bridge between reformist aims and medical oversight.
- 💶 Funding
- 🤝 Collaboration
- 🧬 Rehabilitation
-
Sara (Anita Caprioli)
Played by Anita Caprioli
Nello’s girlfriend who stays close through the cooperative’s upheavals, offering support and sharing in its late successes despite tensions.
- 💑 Partner
- 🧩 Support
- L(
Luca (Giovanni Calcagno)
Played by Giovanni Calcagno
A fellow patient with artistic talent who helps realize the star-floor project. He shares in the cooperative’s milestones and the emotional arc surrounding Gigio’s tragedy.
- 🧭 Friend
- 🖌️ Artist
Where and When Is We Can Do That Set?
We Can Do That is set in Milan and Paris (1983). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1983
Set in the early 1980s Milan during Italy’s deinstitutionalization era, the film captures a period of social experimentation and reform. It follows the shift from care work to productive labor within Cooperative 180, funded by European sources and driven by a new ethos of empowerment. The narrative also moves toward an international dimension with a Paris project, reflecting cross‑border funding and opportunity.
Where
Milan, Paris
The story unfolds in Milan (1983) amid Italy’s post‑asylum reform era, where a group of patients are organized into Cooperative 180. The city serves as a testing ground for work-based rehabilitation, transforming care into market-oriented tasks and creative projects. The cooperative’s reach eventually extends to Paris, where a contract to decorate stops on a new underground line marks a major expansion.
- 🌆 Urban Italy
- 🧩 Social reform
- 🎭 Italian drama
- 🏗️ Cooperative movement
What Are the Themes of We Can Do That?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Empowerment, Care vs. Autonomy and Tragedy & Resilience.
-
01
Empowerment
The cooperative redefines disability as capability, giving patients real work and creative roles. Nello leads with a democratic, participatory approach, encouraging patients to contribute their strengths. The story frames social reform as a collective journey where people with disabilities become builders of value and meaning.
-
02
Care vs. Autonomy
A central tension centers on reducing drug dosages and promoting autonomous functioning. Del Vecchio resists scaling back treatment, while Furlan and EU funding push for new methods. The conflict raises ethical questions about consent, quality of life, and the boundaries between care and control.
-
03
Tragedy & Resilience
Gigio’s love affair and the party incident expose the harsh social stigma surrounding the cooperative. His subsequent suicide acts as a catalyst that tests leadership, accountability, and collective purpose. Despite the tragedy, the group recovers, securing new contracts and continuing its mission.
What Kind of Film Is We Can Do That?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A hopeful and earnest drama that balances the triumphant achievements of a marginalized community with the deep tragedy of personal loss, ultimately emerging as a story of resilience and social empowerment.
- hopeful
- determined
- tragic
- uplifting
- earnest
- reflective
- mental health
- social reintegration
- cooperative work
- redemption
Content notes: suicide.
Quiz
How well do you remember We Can Do That? Test yourself on the story.
