30/10/2008

It was meant to be Fabrizio De André’s day, with two films dedicated to one of Italy’s most celebrated singer-songwriters, who passed away in 1999. But the double homage paid yesterday by the Rome Film Festival (in the Extra section) instead stirred up much controversy.

At the heart of the contention lie the cold, tit for tat exchanges between De André’s widow, Dori Ghezzi, and director Daniele Costantini, who for Amore Che Vieni, Amore Che Vai [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (produced by Goodtime in with RAI Cinema and to be released domestically on November 14 by Istituto Luce) adapted the novel Un destino ridicolo, written by the musician with Alessandro Gennari.

"I never even liked the book and would have preferred that the film had not been made, says Ghezzi, to which Costantini responded, "Her opinion means practically nothing to me. She can’t decide what can and cannot be done."

Set in the alleyways of 1960s Genoa, the film (named after the homonymous song, the only original De André song in the soundtrack by Nicola Piovani) strives to evoke the atmospheres and characters of De André’s poetic universe, including Sardinian thieves (Filippo Nigro, also at the festival in Bad Girls [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), soft-hearted pimps (Fausto Paravidino), black marketeers (Massimo Popolizio) and prostitutes (Donatella Finocchiaro).

There is one thing upon which both agree: it would have been better if the film had not been scheduled the same day as Effedia: Sulla Mia Cattiva Strada, the documentary on De André (soon to be available on DVD, distributed by Sony) produced by Ghezzi and directed by journalist Teresa Marchesi, featuring never-before-seen material.

"The programming schedule does not depend on me, however, and [Ms. Ghezzi] would be better off complaining to the festival organisers", said Costantini curtly.

(Translated from Italian)