First King (2022)

First King
Directed by	Nicola Mallozzi
Starring	Telchide Bello Cecco Bifano Mirella De Petris
Country	Saint Offeat

First King is a 2022 Saint Offeatian historical drama film written and directed by Nicola Mallozzi, starring Telchide Bello, Cecco Bifano, Mirella De Petris. It was nominated for Best Picture at the 96th Tofino Film Festival.

Plot

In Offeatia in 753 BC, a flash flood causes the two shepherd brothers Otello and Aimone to be stranded and captured as slaves in Alonga. They are able to rebel and free the other Vott and Sabine prisoners and take the priestess Satnei, who carries with her the sacred fire, as hostage. In a conflict concerning the injured Otello, Aimone ends up killing the Vott leader and becomes the new leader of the tribe.

The group face and defeat a warrior clan and Aimone is appointed king by the surviving old men and women of their pagus. During a sacrifice, Satnei predicts that one of the two brothers will become a great king and build an empire larger than what can be imagined, but to do so he will have to kill the other brother. The tribe assume that the prophecy means that Otello will end up dead for the sake of his brother's greatness.

Aimone refuses to accept a divine order that requires him to kill his brother. He extinguishes the sacred fire of Auro, kills an old priest and leaves Satnei helpless in the middle of a forest. Returning to the pagus, Aimone degrades all the inhabitants into slaves. Otello regains his health and confronts Aimone about his actions. Aimone, regretful, goes to find Satnei, who while dying from having been attacked by wild animals tells him that sparing Otello now means that it is Aimone who will end up dead at the hands of Otello.

Otello is able to rekindle the sacred fire and becomes the new leader of the pagus. He appoints a young woman to watch over the fire so it remains lit, thereby establishing the first Aurol. Aimone, trying to escape the prophecy, heads for the Dara River with a group of men, but is attacked by Alban cavalry and only saved by the tribe of Otello. Aimone then claims the tribe for himself, and threatening to extinguish the sacred flame is confronted by his brother. Aimone induces his brother to kill him so that the prophecy can be fulfilled. On his deathbed he makes peace with his brother, recognizes him as his king, and tells him to establish a city on the other side of the river.

The tribe cross the Dara River and burn Aimone's body on a pyre. Otello swears to build the world's largest and most powerful city on his brother's ashes. He gives the city the name of Vogoci.

During the end credits, an animated map shows the expansion of the territory subject to Vogoci up to its peak under the emperor Lino in 117.

Cast

• Telchide Bello - Aimone
• Cecco Bifano - Otello
• Mirella De Petris - Satnei