L'Italo-Americano

T he new film from di- rector Laura Luchetti, Twin Flower (Fiore Gemello) explores un- likely friendships and the loss of innocence, set against the starkly beautiful landscape of Sardinia. The film had its Ameri- can premiere in May during the Seattle International Film Festi- val. Luchetti cast two first-time ac- tors -- Anastasiya Bogach as Anna and Kalil Kone as Basim – in the lead roles, using their real-life per- sonal stories and diverse back- grounds to add authenticity to their on-screen characters. In the film, Anna is on-the-run, trying to es- cape from a human trafficker who has murdered her father. The crime traumatized her into silence and her character speaks very little throughout the film. Along the way, Anna encoun- ters Basim, an illegal immigrant from the Ivory Coast who is being pursued by the Italian police. The two teenagers are as different as can be. They don't speak the same language, share the same religion or understand each other's culture. What they have in common is the traumatic experience of leaving their homes and all things familiar to go in search of freedom, safety and a better future. Together, they form a powerful bond of friendship and trust as they run for their lives. Born in Rome, film maker RITA CIPALLA don't have a voice." Luchetti's approach to telling this story is one rooted in realism and simplicity. Her determination to provide a credible voice led to her decision to use non-profes- sional actors in the lead roles. To find the right pair, Luchetti inter- viewed many individuals, male and female, looking for that spe- cial combination of intelligence, passion and emotional accessibil- ity. The two young people she cast, like their on-screen charac- ters, had each survived great emo- tional upheaval and a significant geographic journey. Anastasiya Bogach, originally from the Ukraine, moved to Italy when she was young. She had to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture and customs. Kalil Kone's past is very similar to the character he plays in the film. He left the Ivory Coast, walking hun- dreds of miles through Africa until he reached Libya. There, he got on a boat, risking his life for a bet- ter future. He arrived safely in Sar- dinia but some of his fellow trav- elers did not make it. Luchetti got the idea for the film several years ago when she heard a story from a young girl who had escaped from a violent past. As she started to develop the story line - the film took about five years from concept to com- pletion - she discovered that thou- sands of young people go missing every year. Many like Basim ar- rive in a new country as fugitives without documents, identification or family networks. They are forced to simply disappear into their new environment. In Twin Flower, this environ- ment is very much a part of the film. The setting for the story – Sardinia, the second-largest is- land in the Mediterranean – is a defining force. Its harsh yet breathtaking landscape offers shel- ter and also poses a danger for the two young protagonists. Sun- baked landscapes, wind and rain storms, buzzing and crawling in- sects all add atmosphere, realism and a distinctive sound track to the film. "I chose this environment and these protagonists because this is the strongest thing that is happen- ing now in Italy," said Luchetti. "It is what our country is living now." Although the story of Anna and Basim is one that takes place in many places around the world where suspicion, fear and hatred reign, Luchetti hopes to leave au- diences with a message of hope. "Often differences can bring peo- ple together," she said. "A rela- tionship can exist between two people who have nothing in com- mon – not language, nor culture, nor religion. But one relationship can make all the difference. One relationship can change lives." Laura Luchetti lived in London for many years. She earned a de- gree in international political sci- ence, intending to become a diplo- mat. Instead, her career took a different turn and she found her way into film-making. "I like telling stories," said Luchetti, "and I think telling a story with images is one of the most beautiful ways to communi- cate. Many things interest me. I am a very curious person. Small details fascinate me as do all the tiny things that live in the realm between the real and the unreal." Luchetti's career to date is marked by its diversity. She has made short films, music videos, commercials and documentaries as well as writing and directing two theater productions based on classical music. She directed and produced a documentary for di- rector Anthony Minghella fol- lowing his 2003 film, Cold Moun- tain. She worked as production secretary on The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and as Russell Crowe's assistant on Proof of Life (2000). Her first long-feature film, a 2010 Italian romantic comedy called Hay Fever, was selected for several international festivals, and for the past four years, she's devoted much of her attention to stop-motion animation. Her ani- mated film Sugarlove was selected last year for the Venice Festival Critics' Week. Luchetti characterizes Twin Flower as a drama about inno- cence, a story very much rooted in today's realities. "I am naturally drawn to stories about lost inno- cence and the struggle to regain it," she told the film website Women and Hollywood. "My two protagonists are trying to escape from a reality that hurt them… Currently, around the world, there are millions of kids like them who Film maker Laura Luchetti explores unlikely friendships amid violent realities SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY The cast of Twin Flower met in Rome during a press conference recently. Actor Anastasiya Bogach and director Laura Luchetti are second and third from left; actor Kalil Kone is on the far right. (Laura Luchetti) THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 www.italoamericano.org 26 L'Italo-Americano Twin Flower had its American premiere in late May at the Seattle International FIlm Festival, the largest and most attended film festival in the U.S. (SIFF)

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