29/11/2012 - In competition during this year’s Turin Film Festival is Mario Balsamo and Guido Gabrielli’s documentary film – a witty reflection on illness, friendship and false myths

In competition during the thirtieth Turin Film Festival (23 November – 1 December), Noi non siamo come James Bond (which literally translates into ‘we are not like James Bond) not only has a catchy title, but also holds universal themes – like lost youth, the illusion of invincibility, illness, changing lives and friendship – all of which makes it a film with which it is easy to identify. Made by documentary filmmaker Mario Balsamo together with his long time friend Guido Gabrielli, it is the story of two survivors, a public, poetic and ironic confession and an act of courage which leaves a mark.

They may not be invincible like James Bond, but Mario and Guido’s battles against cancer were won. They have been friends for thirty years and love to travel, first travelling together in 1985 to Iceland. For twenty years, with a Canadian tent and very little money in their pockets, her Majesty’s secret agent seemed to be mocking them from high up on billboards all around Europe, with his perfect dinner jacket, five star hotels, and the fact that he was always ready to face any situation. Today, after a close brush with death, Mario and Guido want to ask James Bond, who for them is inevitably Sean Connery, what the secret of immortality is.

They put their black tie outfits on, jump into a vintage mini and revisit places from their youth. Sabaudia beaches, Umbria jazz venues, the introspective spirit wood in Borgotaro. Reflections on life and questions about why illness fell on them are themes that alternate through medical visits, encounters with old friends, as well as phone calls to Sir Sean Connery’s residence in the Bahamas, in order to try and talk to the old 007. In the end, Connery answers the phone, but has no recipe for immortality. “I am sorry. I have no time, I have medical check-ups to get to…” Perhaps even he is no James Bond.

An unforgettable scene: the two men running on the beach in their wrinkled dinner jackets, a bit beaten up because of their illnesses aftereffects. A wonderful idea: to include the first Italian Bond Girl, the beautiful Daniela Bianchi from From Russia With Love, in their search.

Produced by Mir Cinematografica and Hasenso, the film is enriched by Teho Teardo’s music (Diaz [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Daniele Vicari
film profile], La nave dolce [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).

(Translated from Italian)