L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 4 SILVIA GIUDICI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS L uca is a tribute to Italy, its atmospheres and scents, in particular to those of the Italian Riviera where director Enrico Casarosa, 49, spent long summers during his childhood and adolescence. Pasta with pesto and sea breeze, the warm colors of Cinque Terre, the passion f o r I t a l i a n m u s i c a n d traditions, long adventures riding a Vespa: the Genoese d i r e c t o r , a n i m a t o r a n d s c r e e n w r i t e r ' s m e m o r i e s have become part of his first feature film by Pixar, Luca. T h e s t o r y i s a b o u t t w o friends, Luca and Alberto, g r o w i n g u p i n i n L i g u r i a between the '50s and '60s. The two don't only share a deep friendship but also a great secret: they actually are sea creatures that, when out of the water, assume the appearance of two eleven y e a r o l d s . T h e f i l m i s i n s p i r e d b y t h e b o n d Casarosa established, as a b o y , w i t h h i s f r i e n d Alberto Surace, now an Air Force pilot, also born and raised in Genoa. Casarosa, who moved to N e w Y o r k a t t h e a g e o f twenty to study animation, grew up professionally at D i s n e y a n d w a s t h e screenwriter and director of La Luna -- a short film for which he was nominated for an Academy Award -- and storyboard artist for Ice Age, Up, Cars, Ratatouille and The Incredibles 2. "It is a film inspired by my childhood in the Cinque T e r r e , b y t h e s u m m e r s I spent there with my best friend, Alberto," Casarosa explains. The Genoese artist has lived in Berkeley, California, for many years, but retur- n e d t o h i s h o m e t o w n , Genoa, to present the film to the Italian public. "I was b o r n a n d r a i s e d i n v i a Piaggio, in Genoa. There, t h e c o a s t i s v e r y s p e c i a l b e c a u s e i t i s v e r y s t e e p . M o u n t a i n s r i s e f r o m t h e sea. Cities are frozen in time and remain very picture- sque. I have always imagi- ned them as little monsters that come out of the water." Enrico, your film is clearly a love letter to Liguria. What emotions did you want to convey? H e r e i n L i g u r i a , y o u grow up with the sea within, because you always look at i t . L i g u r i a n s k n o w i t . I wanted to celebrate that sea, I wanted to show it to the world, along with all that come along with it, like good food and music. You put a bit of Italy i n t h e s o u n d t r a c k a s well. We wanted to take people back in time through music, and for this reason we chose the beautiful '50s. The only e x c e p t i o n w e m a d e w a s E d o a r d o B e n n a t o ' s L ' I s o l a c h e N o n c ' è , a n album I adore. I wanted the song Il Gatto e La Volpe to be part of the soundtrack, b e c a u s e i t t a l k s a b o u t f r i e n d s h i p , a b o u t b e i n g together and getting into trouble. I wanted to share this song with the world, and get younger people to know it. Bennato sent us a thank you message. T h i s f i l m i s a b o u t encounters that change l i f e . W h i c h m e e t i n g changed your life on a professional level? T h e o n e w i t h m y producer Andrea Warren, because we have created a b e a u t i f u l b o n d , w e b o t h want to grow professionally. Making a film is extremely hard… we both wanted to take care of all the people w h o w o r k e d w i t h u s , w e wanted them to have fun, t o o ! W e s h a r e t h e s a m e philosophy, we see obstacles a n d d i f f i c u l t i e s a s opportunities for growth. In the film, Alberto has a mantra he relies o n : " S i l e n c e , B r u n o ! " (When In Doubt, Shout it Out!). Bruno is that voice in our head telling u s w e c a n ' t d o something because we lack the skills to do it. A l b e r t o i s g o o d a t silencing it, giving Luca encouragement. Do you a l s o h a v e a p e r s o n a l mantra to follow when y o u f i n d y o u r s e l f i n difficult times? S i n c e I d i s c o v e r e d Silence, Bruno! I have often applied it in my life. It is definitely my new mantra. In this last year and a half, we have had many problems a n d w e r e a l l y n e e d e d "Silence, Bruno!" Indeed, I think we should get into the habit to say it to each other more often. C a n t h e f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n L u c a a n d A l b e r t o b e c a l l e d a Continued to page 6 Enrico Casarosa poses with a 500, in front of a poster promoting Luca (Photo: Virginia Bettoja) Enrico Casarosa and Luca, Pixar's first movie set in Italy

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