PRODUCTION / FUNDING Italy / Spain / Poland
Lorenzo Zurzolo and James Franco starring in Daniele Barbiero’s Squali
- Shooting is underway on the Italian director’s debut film, produced by Camaleo and Eagle Pictures, together with Spanish firm Neo Art Producciones and Poland’s Agresywna Banda
Since 8 July, shooting has been underway on Squali, an international co-production loosely based on Giacomo Mazzariol’s second novel, Gli squali (his first book inspired Stefano Cipani’s movie of the same name, My Brother Chases Dinosaurs [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Stefano Cipani
film profile], which was presented in Venice’s 2019 Giornate degli Autori line-up). Produced by Camaleo in association with Eagle Pictures and in co-production with Spain’s Neo Art Producciones and Poland’s Agresywna Banda, the film signals the feature film directorial debut of Daniele Barbiero, who has previously authored short films, adverts and music videos.
The screenplay is penned by Mauro Graiani (Copperman [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Divorzio a Las Vegas [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile] and Hotspot - Amore senza rete), while the cast is led by Lorenzo Zurzolo (of the series Baby and Prisma [+see also:
series review
series profile], and films Morrison [+see also:
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film profile] and EO [+see also:
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trailer
film profile]) and Oscar-winning American actor James Franco (this year starring in the French-Belgian movie The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Olivier Masset-Depasse
film profile]), who are joined by similarly young actors Francesco Centorame (There Is Still Tomorrow [+see also:
film review
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film profile]), Ginevra Francesconi (The Nest [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Roberto De Feo
film profile] and My Name is Vendetta [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Francesco Gheghi (My Brother Chases Dinosaurs, Padrenostro [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Claudio Noce
film profile] and The Invisible Thread [+see also:
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trailer
film profile]), Spanish talent Greta Fernández (named Best Actress in San Sebastian thanks to A Thief’s Daughter [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Belén Funes
film profile]), Gabriele Rollo (My Summer With Irene [+see also:
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interview: Carlo Sironi
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What direction should we take after leaving school? And, most importantly, when are we really ready to make this decision? This is the question asked by Max (Zurzolo), a 19-year-old boy from the Venetian provinces who has planned a trip to Spain with a group of friends in the most important summer of his life, a summer of freedom following his end of school exams. But, one evening, he receives an unexpected email from Robert Price (Franco), the founder of a start-up incubator who has noticed and wants to develop the app which Max has devised to help his peers decide what they want to do in the future, starting with the field they wish to focus on. Before he knows it, the boy finds himself on a train headed for the capital, ready and willing to chase after an opportunity which could change everything for him.
But things move far too quickly. In a flash, Max loses the carefreeness typical of his young age and finds himself thrust into the rules of the adult world. Life forces him to decide while continually on the move, just like sharks, which can’t ever stop for fear of dying. These boys, too, are sharks: they’re not bad, they’re just hungry and they can’t keep still. Money, social status and fame all feel within arm’s reach. This group of forever friends, including Max’s best friend Filippo (Centorame) and his teen love Anna (Francesconi), spend the holidays enjoying “their time” and wrestling with their unresolved worries, while Max tries to work out what it is he really wants. What form will his future take?
The costumes we see in Squali are designed by Massimo Cantini Parrini, who was twice nominated for the Oscars and who already has 5 David di Donatello awards (most recently for Miss Marx [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Susanna Nicchiarelli
film profile]) and 4 Nastri d’Argento trophies under his belt. Shooting will last six weeks between the Veneto and Lazio regions, and the film will be distributed in Italian cinemas by Eagle Pictures.
(Translated from Italian)
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