22/05/2006

Silvio Berlusconi lost the elections but continues to be as dangerous as before. After the press screening of The Caiman [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean Labadie
interview: Nanni Moretti
film profile] (see focus), Nanni Moretti met with international journalists to explain the Italian anomaly: "There is a way of doing politics – arrogantly and with total disdain for institutions and one’s political rival – that is not just Italian. However, in no country could a man who possesses a media empire with interests in just about everything enter politics and become president”. The fault lies with the left, whose slogan was ‘not to demonise Berlusconi': "The former president even did not want to recognise his defeat, which is extremely serious for democracy".

To Moretti, the Italian problem is inurement: "Everyone considers what Berlusconi says and does to be normal", said the director who, with his film wanted to "recount the danger of [Berlusconi’s] political adventure. I think that cinema has to surprise us, and show us a reality that we are no longer able to see and judge".

The film, made by Sacher Film in co-production with Bac Films, Stephan and France 3 Cinema, in collaboration with Wild Bunch, is preparing for its international adventure: concurrently with its Cannes screening, Bac Films is releasing The Caiman today on 200 screens (26 of which are in Paris and its outskirts).

Meanwhile, Wild Bunch has pre-sold the film to Canada (Crystal), the UK (Optimum), Portugal (Atalanta), Croatia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, the former Yugoslavia (MCF), Brazil (Downtown), Australia (Palace), Mexico, Scandinavia (Triangle), Greece, Israel, Romania, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Tonight, Moretti will scale the montée des marches together with the Ministers of Culture from 16 European countries and EU Information Commissioner Vivianne Reding for the film’s official screening.

(Translated from Italian)