Villerupt crowns Pasetto’s The Call

by Fabien Lemercier

15/11/2010 - Presented in world premiere in the Discovery section at the latest Toronto Film Festival and selected at London last month, Stefano Pasetto’s The Call scooped Best Film at the 33rd Villerupt Italian Film Festival.

Starring Sandra Ceccarelli and Francesca Inaudi, this Italian/Argentinean co-production centres on the encounter in Buenos Aires between two very different women.

Lea is a rather confused young Italian woman who lives with Marco, but doesn’t want a permanent relationship. Lucia is a 40-year-old air stewardess with a loving husband and beautiful apartment in a smart neighbourhood, but a fragile mental balance.

In the past, Lucia used to teach piano and, through a combination of circumstances, Lea contacts her about taking lessons. A strong attraction arises between the two women: Lucia is soon ready to follow Lea to the ends of the earth.

This elegantly filmed, subtle love story was produced by Iter Film in co-production with RAI Cinema and with backing from the Italian Culture Ministry. International sales are being managed by Adriana Chiesa Enterprises.

Villerupt’s Audience Award was handed to Paolo Virzi’s The First Beautiful Thing [trailer], which is the Italian hopeful for the 2011 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination. The Press Award went to Saverio Costanzo’s The Solitude of Prime Numbers [trailer], while the Exhibitors Jury crowned Rocco Papaleo’s Basilicata Coast to Coast [trailer].

Finally, the Youth Jury opted for Aureliano Amadei’s 20 Cigarettes [trailer].

(Translated from French)