25/07/2024 - The second feature as director from the Rome actor, produced by HT Film, Damocle, Tenderstories and Rai Cinema, will open the Orizzonti competition

“Opening the festival means opening the film to the eyes and the heart of the public. I take it as an opportunity to free a story that has been only mine for so long and that, I hope, will become everyone’s.” This is what Valerio Mastandrea said when his second feature as director, Nonostante [+see also:
film review
film profile], was announced as the opening film of the Orizzonti competition at the 81st Venice Film Festival (27 August - 7 September). The film, in which the popular Rome actor stars alongside Argentinian actress Dolores Fonzi (Paulina [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Truman [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Cesc Gay
film profile], last year in her first film as director Blondi [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dolores Fonzi
film profile]), Lino Musella (nominated for the David di Donatello award for Bad Tales [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fabio and Damiano D’Innocenzo
film profile]), Giorgio Montanini, Justin Alexander Korovkin, Barbara Ronchi (winner of the David for Settembre [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), Luca Lionello (David-nominated for Cover Boy, recently in Padre Pio [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Abel Ferrara
film profile]) and Laura Morante (David for The Son’s Room [+see also:
trailer
film profile], nominated five more times, recently in Un altro Ferragosto [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) will have its world premiere on 28 August on the Lido.

Amongst the most beloved actors of his generation, Valerio Mastandrea, 52, has won four David di Donatello awards for his performances in The First Beautiful Thing [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Balancing Act [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Long Live Freedom [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Roberto Andò
film profile] and Fiore [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Claudio Giovannesi
film profile]. Recently, he acted in There Is Still Tomorrow [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], one of the five highest-grossing Italian films ever. His directing debut Ride [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Valerio Mastandrea
film profile] (2018) won the Nastro d’Argento for Best Debut Feature.

The subject and the screenplay are by Enrico Audenino and Valerio Mastandrea. A man quietly spends his days in hospital without too many worries. He recovers soon enough, but this condition seems to be the best mode in which to live his life, sheltered from everything and everyone, without responsibilities and problems of any kind. It’s really nice in there, and even if some ward mates feel trapped, he feels free there like nowhere else. This precious routine runs smoothly until a new person is admitted to the same ward. She is a restless, angry companion, who does not accept anything of her condition, especially the unwritten rules. She doesn’t have the patience to wait, and instead wants to leave this place feeling better or even worse. She wants to live as she should or die, as happens to those who finish in there. The man is overwhelmed by that fury and first tries to defend himself, but then welcomes something incomprehensible. This encounter will help him accept that if he chooses to truly face his heart and emotions, there is no possible cure.

Nonostante is produced by Viola Prestieri and Valeria Golino for HT Film, Francesco Tatò and Oscar Glioti for Damocle, Moreno Zani and Malcom Pagani for Tenderstories with Rai Cinema. The editing is by Chiara Vullo, the cinematography by Guido Michelotti, the costumes by Veronica Fragola and Carlotta D’Alessio, the casting by Gabriella Giannattasio. The film will be distributed in Italian cinemas by BiM Distribuzione.

(Translated from Italian)