09/03/2007

More than a film it is a passion, a manifesto, a legend for Italian adolescents. To the delight of young audiences, today marks the release of the highly anticipated generational comedy Ho voglia di te [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (lit. “I Want You”), the sequel to the hit film Three Steps Over Heaven (Tre metri sopra il cielo), both based on eponymous novels by Federico Moccia.

Produced by Cattleya and distributed by Warner Bros Pictures on 640 screens, the film was directed by Spain’s Luis Prieto and begins with the return to Rome of Step, the reckless and extremely romantic character played by handsome, local idol of young (and not-so-young) girls, Riccardo Scamarcio.

After spending two years in the United States, to which he fled to forget the pain of his friend’s death in a motorcycle accident and the end of his relationship with Babi (Katy Saunders), Step now confronts the past, finds a job and, most importantly, meets whirlwind Gin (Laura Chiatti). The question is, naturally: will our hero manage to return to where we left him, “there where only those in love live, three steps over heaven”?

The film is set against an ever-present Rome, with its ruins, meeting places and rituals, and features a pivotal scene in which the two leads seal their love by hooking a lock to the lamppost on the Ponte Milvio bridge and tossing the key into the Tibur. A gesture performed by hundreds of Rome’s couples, passionate readers of Moccia’s book.

(Translated from Italian)