14/03/2013 - The comedy, directed by Riccardo Milani, tells the story of a naïve fisherman who is elected head of Italy by mistake. In cinemas on March 21 with an early screening on Saturday 16 at the Bari FF

As if Italian politics weren’t already surreal enough: the new president of the republic is called Giuseppe Garibaldi, is 55, and is a trout fisherman. You can relax though, this is just a film. Benvenuto presidente! [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Riccardo Milani, coming out in 400 cinemas on March 21 with 01 and an early screening on Saturday 16 at the Bari Film Festival, will open during a delicate political moment in Italy. It resonates to such an extent (with a common man at the helm) that it may end up being branded too "grillino", in support of comedian Beppe Grillo, and his 5 Star party, recently elected to parliament.   

The film, half way between fable and farce, is the story of a modest trout fisherman (Claudio Bisio) called Giuseppe Garibaldi, nicknamed Peppino by his friends. By pure coincidence, he becomes head of the Italian state. Representatives from the three main political parties (Giuseppe Fiorello, Massimo Popolizio and Cesare Bocci, expert wheelers and dealers) cannot agree on the name of the next president. As a provocation, parliamentarians decide to write the name of the nineteenth century Italian hero on their voting cards. Little do they know that an actual electable Garibaldi exists. 

Against all predictions, Peppino accepts his new duties, undergoing, with moderate degrees of success the protocol lessons of his vice secretary general (an inflexible Kasia Smutniak). What he lacks in convention, he more than compensates for in good sense, humour, and a straightforwardness that he brings into institutions. 

"The film was written three years ago,” screenwriter Fabio Bonifacci said (Amiche da morire [+see also:
trailer
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trailer
film profile]), "the Grilli phenomenon had not yet exploded, but there already was a diffuse climate of anti-politics.”

“I am not lining myself up against political parties,” Milani explained, “the corruption is not just in parliament, but also among citizens who are not respecting the rules.”

“This is a film that was born as a farce and suddenly became hyper-realistic,” Bisio added.

While another film, Viva la libertà [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Roberto Andò
film profile], which came out just days before the elections, foresaw a vertical loss of consensus among leaders of the opposition (read the news story), Benvenuto presidente! seems to reflect the uncertainty surrounding the nomination of a new head of state. It does this lightheartedly, with one joke after the other. But are Italians still in the mood for laughing at their politicians and their disgrace? 

(Translated from Italian)