Viva l'Italia by Massimiliano Bruno, Italy and its contradictions

by Camillo De Marco

15/05/2012 - Shooting for Massimiliano Bruno's (photo) new film, Viva l'Italia, started yesterday in Rome, following the success of his debut Escort in Love [trailer] (Golden Globe and Nastro D’Argento for Best Comedy and takings of over 8M).

The main characters of this comedy, which portrays Italy in all its contradictions, without sparing anything or anyone, are Raoul Bova, Alessandro Gassman, Michele Placido, Ambra Angiolini, Edoardo Leo and Maurizio Mattioli, with the participation of Rocco Papaleo.

The screenplay, written by the film's director together with Edoardo Falcone, tells the story of a politician, Michele Spagnolo (Placido), who, following a serious illness, loses his inhibitory brakes and says everything he's thinking, becoming a loose cannon for himself, his party and his family. His three children, who can't really stand each other, come to the rescue: Riccardo (Bova), an upright and socially engaged doctor; Susanna (Angiolini), an actress with no talent, Valerio (Gassman), a good-for-nothing who owes everything to his father.

The film is produced by Fulvio and Federica Lucisano for Italian International Film with Rai Cinema and will be distributed by 01 Distribution.