25/09/2006

Three Italians are in official competition and many others are in the other sections of the Rome International Film Festival (October 13-21). In anticipation of the complete programme that will be presented at tomorrow’s press conference, what follows are some of the Italian films that will be present at the new festival.

Vying for the Marco Aurelio Award is Francesca Comencini with A casa nostra, (lit. “At Our House”; produced by Bianca Film and RAI Cinema, with a contribution from MiBAC), a film whose main character is money, seen through the eyes of numerous characters: an established accountant (Luca Zingaretti) who recycles it from illicit activities, the commander of the Revenue Guard Corps (Valeria Golino) investigating him, a young model (Laura Chiatti), a politician, a Ukrainian prostitute, a retired couple, a petrol station attendant, and more.

Also in competition is the documentary Primo Levi’s Journey by Davide Ferrario (produced by Rossofuoco and RAI Cinema, with a contribution from MiBAC and 01 Distribution), which reconstructs writer Levi’s journey home after being released from a concentration camp in the dramatic days following the end of WWI. The film sparked much interest from North American, Australian and Asian buyers in Toronto.

Lastly, Alessandro Angelini’s second film, L'aria salata (lit. “Salty Air”), tells a particularly dramatic story about a young educator who comes cross his father – who disappeared when he was young – in the prison in which he works. Produced by Donatella Botti for Bianca Film with RAI Cinema, the film features rising star Giorgio Pasotti alongside Giorgio Colangeli, Michela Cescon and Katy Louise Saunders.

The prestigious Première section, which is intended to combine established filmmaking and spectacle, features Oscar-winner Giuseppe Tornatore, Paolo Virzì and Eugenio Cappuccio. Five years after Malena, Tornatore returns to the big screen with La sconosciuta (lit. “The Unknown Woman”), an approximately €8m Italian/French co-production between Medusa Film and Babe. Shot entirely in the Italian city of di Trieste, the film is a complex web of emotions and mystery starring Russian theatre and television actress Xenia Rappoport as a young student and au pair, Michele Placido and Margherita Buy.

After the success of I Truly Respect You, on the ruthlessness of the business world, Cappuccio this times takes on the subject of sickness in Uno su due (lit. “One in Two”), the story of a young lawyer (Fabio Volo) whose everyday professional life is turned upside down by an illness. The cast includes Ninetto Davoli, one of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s favourite actors. Uno su due was produced by Beppe Caschetto for I.T.C. Movie with RAI Cinema and a contribution from MiBAC.

Already announced by the festival is the presence of Monica Bellucci, the star of N.: Napoleon & Me [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Paolo Virzì, an original two-sided portrait: "The official one, of the Machievellian leader, strategist and man of power, and the private, secret portrait, of a vain, fragile man in need of attention and affection", explained the director. Daniel Auteil stars in this Italian/French co-production.

Other titles not yet confirmed by festival organisers include Viaggio segreto (lit. “Secret Journey”) by Roberto Andò; Flying Lessons by Francesca Archibugi, starring Giovanna Mezzogiorno; The Hand of God, a biopic on Diego Maradona directed by Marco Risi; Cardiofitness by Fabio Tagliavia; and Notturno Bus (lit. “Night Bus”) by Davide Marengo.

Documentary films include Steve Della Casa’s Uomini forti (lit. “Strong Men”) and Costanza Quatriglio’s Il mondo addosso (lit. “The World On His Shoulders”). The latter was shot on the streets of Rome for a very low budget and with support from UNICEF and other humanitarian organisations that work with war refugees, and tells the story of a young Afghani who comes to Italy and is placed in a refugee detention centre.

(Translated from Italian)