L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 20 L'Italo-Americano " Gabriele Salva- tores is the ideal a r t i s t t o p r e s i d e o v e r t h e c u r r e n t edition of this festi- val. His love for our country, his support and his impor- tant contribution to our cul- ture knows no boundaries." With these words, blue-eyed and well-built Italian actor F r a n c o N e r o , i n t r o - d u c e d I t a l i a n A c a d e m y Award-winning film director and screenwriter, Gabriele Salvatores, during an event h e l d a t t h e I t a l i a n C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e i n Westwood. Oscar-winning director f o r M e d i t e r r a n e o , Salvatores was selected by the Capri Institute in the World as president of the 1 5 t h e d i t i o n o f L o s A n g e l e s , I t a l y - F i l m , F a s h i o n a n d A r t F e s t , which this year took place from 2nd to 8 th of February at the Chinese Theater in H o l l y w o o d . T h e e v e n t opened in Hollywood, as it traditionally happens every y e a r , r i g h t b e f o r e t h e Oscars, with a parterre of famous Italian and Italian- American artists and a rich program of previews, retro- spectives and exhibitions that focused on the cinema and culture of our country. In 1991, Salvatores recei- ved international praise for Mediterraneo, which besi- d e w i n n i n g a n A c a d e m y Award as best foreign film, also won three D a v i d d i Donatello, the most impor- tant award for Italian cine- ma, and a Silver Ribbon. Gabriele Salvatores began his career as a theater direc- tor in 1972, founding the Teatro dell'Elfo in Milan, where he remained active until 1989, the year in which he made his film debut with the road movie Marrakech E x p r e s s . A f t e r t h i s f i r s t success, he directed Turné, p r e s e n t e d i n 1 9 9 0 a t t h e C a n n e s f e s t i v a l , a n d M e d i t e r r a n e o ( 1 9 9 1 ) , w h i c h w o n t h e O s c a r f o r Best Foreign Language Film a s w e l l a s t h r e e D a v i d d i Donatello awards. Gabriele, how does it feel to be the president of a festival that celebra- tes Italian cinema in the city of cinema? It feels normal! (laughs) And also I have to admit I haven't really understood what being the president of t h i s f e s t i v a l m e a n s , I g e t introduced and say hello to m a n y p e o p l e , I g i v e o u t awards, and that's it! It's pretty easy! On the other hand I think it is an honor to be asked to have this role a n d I t h a n k P a s c a l Vicedomini for having me here. So you came back to Los Angeles after many many years, what's your impression? I have to admit I don't know this city very well, and it's not my favorite city in America. It doens't have a city center and since I am someone who needs to feel s e c u r e , t h e v a s t i t y o f L A makes me feel a bit lost. But it has changed a lot since the last time I came here which was ten years ago, when I c a m e t o t a k e p a r t t o t h e same festival with my movie Happy Family. H o w w o u l d y o u d e s c r i b e L o s A n g e l e s , the city of movies and stars? I would say say it's almost like a puzzle and you can make it up the way you want it to be. What do you do here in your free time? B e s i d e a l l m y a p p o i n t - m e n t s , m y f r i e n d M a r c o knows the city very well and he takes me to the best pla- ces. He took me to Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach. You once turned down a n o f f e r t o w o r k i n H o l l y w o o d , i s i t s o m e t h i n g y o u w o u l d reconsider now? No, I am happy I said no. It was 1992, I had just won an Oscar, and since it was only my third movie I still needed to know what kind of cinema I wanted to do. Here you have to do their kind of movies. And also, I had just fell in love with an Italian woman and she didn't want to leave Italy. S o y o u s a i d n o f o r love? Yes, also for love. Have you been back to the Dolby Theater where you won the Oscar? N o , I h a v e n ' t ! I a m s o busy but of course it came to mind as soon as I stepped foot here. It was my third movie and honestly I didn't e v e n t h i n k I d e s e r v e d a n Oscar so I was not expecting to win. I was very lucky and i t d e f i n i t e l y g a v e a n e w direction to my life. I n I t a l y y o u h a v e always been a trailblazer i n t e r m s o f s p e c i a l effects, for example in your movie The Invisible B o y . I n y o u r o p i n i o n what does Italian cine- ma need today? It needs a little bit of con- fidence because it is way bet- ter that what it looks from the outside. As you mentio- ned with my movie I experi- m e n t e d a l o t w i t h v i s u a l effects, directing, acting… W e h a v e v e r y h i g h s t a n - dards. Maybe what we lack is the ability to write good stories, we should learn to w r i t e m o v i e s t h a t c a n b e internationally appreciated, and not movies that can be enjoyed and understood by u s I t a l i a n s o n l y . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , I t h i n k w e shouldn't loose our roots or sell our soul to the Devil, therefore it is hard to find a balance. So I would definite- l y s a y t h a t w e n e e d m o r e confidence and more sup- port from our government. Y o u r m o v i e A l l M y Crazy Love portrays a f a t h e r a n d s o n , t h e i r incredible adventure on the road while traveling from Eastern Italy to the deserted streets of the Balkans, and their affec- tionate, amusing, pro- b l e m a t i c a n d u n u s u a l relationship. Is it true y o u w e r e s u p p o s e d t o s h o o t i t h e r e i n California? Yes, the original story was b a s e d h e r e , b e t w e e n L o s A n g e l e s , N e w Y o r k a n d Mexico, but it was hard for me to think about the desert without thinking about all the movies shot here, filled with that kind of images. So I tried to find another place, a new one, and I went east, t o C r o a t i a . I a m h a p p y I chose it as it is fresh and rel- a t i v e l y u n k n o w n o n t h e screen. W h a t ' s y o u r n e x t project? My next project is about C a s a n o v a s o i t ' s a l o v e story, actually a double love story. SILVIA GIUDICI S a l v a t o r e s g r e e t s t h e p u b l i c (Photo: Eugenio Blasio) Salvatores with Italian TV personality Ezio Greggio (Photo Eugenio Blasio) From left, Valeria Rumori, IIC Los Angeles Director, Gabriele Salvatores and Consul General Silvia Chiave (Photo: Eugenio Blasio) LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY Italian director Gabriele Salvatores honored in Los Angeles

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