Interview: Director Francesco Munzi of 'Anime nere'

"Anime Nere" is a dark tale set amidst organized crime in a small town in Calabria. The focus is on the rivalry between two families and the generations it has destroyed. Adaped from Gioacchino Criaco’s novel by the same name, the story is one of desperation in which characters are left with a complete void of hope for the future. The film is making its Chicago premiere this weekend at the 18th Annual European Union Film Festival. I caught up with its director, Francesco Munzi.

The movies that you've made- "Il resto della notte," "Saimir" and now "Anime nere" speak of corruption, immigration and organized crime. What fascinates you about these themes in society?

I like speaking about minorities and immigration. The people of the south are also minorities, especially in this small mountain village. Often, the characters of the film spoke in dialect, and even the Italian version needed subtitles. When I speak of themes like crime and drug trafficking in my films, it's easier to demonstrate humanity where there is always a fight between good and evil.

Why did you want to tell the story of "Anime nere?"

I read the book while I was working on another script. I loved the book so much, I stopped working on the other project and immediately got to work on "Anime nere."

What did you love about the book?

I love that it speaks of a wild, mysterious world where this Calabria mafia, 'Ndrangheta was born. It's a mafia with two faces- one in the agriculture of the mountains and the other in big city finance. I tried and succeeded to shoot the film in the real village, which is considered one of the most dangerous regions of Italy.

Did the locals give you any problems while you were shooting?

No because they knew the author of the book, Gioacchino Criaco. He comes from that town, so everyone was supportive because they considered it our project, not just mine. And they understood that it was a fictional film, not a documentary, so they cooperated with us, and many locals appeared as extras in the film.

What was the reaction to the finished product?

We screened the film in the town and I was afraid of the reaction, but the mafia was silent. The rest of the population felt that we were doing something positive by making a film, so they were happy.

How have audiences outside Italy reacted to the film? Do they understand the severity of the story or do people see it as just another mafia movie?

For marketing reasons, the promoters speak generally of the mafia. But when the audience see the movie, they understand that it's not a gangster movie. I speak of the relationship between brothers and that within a crime family, not everyone is corrupt. It's a story of humanity and how a father wants a different life for his son.

The performances of your actors were outstanding. Tell me about Luigi. Marco Leonardi seemed to give the character a lightness and sense of humor even in the middle of conflict. Did you and the other writers create Luigi with this quality or is that something that came through Marco's interpretation of the character?

When an actor meets a character, something always changes. Marco was born in Calabria, so he knew the dialect and also knew the location. So he was great in the role of Luigi because I wanted to create a bad guy, but also someone that could be empathetic with the audience. I don't like when characters are all black or all white. I tend to change the script after the actor has been chosen for the role in order to find an equilibrium. It's important to find realism and truth on screen.

What is the message of this film?

Well I didn't put a character in the film that would resolve the problems, like someone from law enforcement or government. It was important to me to have that character come from within the family to fight against their own war. Luciano wanted his son to be different than his brothers but in the end, he didn't succeed, so he wants to cut the connection. I wanted to show the different shadows within a family. Just because the family is associated with organized crime, that doesn't mean that every family member is corrupt.

"Anime nere" is currently traveling the Midwestern European-themed festival circuit and will be released nationwide on April 10th. Listed below are some confirmed cities and theaters.. Check your local listings for a theater near you.

Angelika NYC – 4/10
Angelika Mosaic – 4/17
Angelika Pop-Up – 4/17
Los Angeles Nuart Theatre - 4/24
Angelika Dallas – 4/24
Angelika Plano – 4/24
Tower – 4/24
Townsquare – 5/8
Gaslamp – 5/8
Kahala – 5/8

Comments

Ornella Muti: Five decades of Acting and Still Going Strong

Ornella Muti was born Francesca Romana Rivelli in Rome in 1955 to a Neapolitan father and an Estonian mother. She began her career as a model during her teenage years and made her film debut in 1970 with “La Moglie più bella” (The Most Beautiful Wife). Her follow-up role was in the 1971 film, “Sole nella pelle” (Sun on the Skin), in which she played the daughter of wealthy parents who runs off with a hippie they don’t approve of. The film offers a telling journey through Italian society in the seventies, with its political climate, breathtaking seaside, and the styles and cars of that time. Much of the film is set amid the sunny Italian seaside and captures the innocence and beauty of first love. Muti made her American film debut in 1980 with "Flash Gordon." She played the role of Princess Aura. She’s appeared in two other American films, including “Oscar,” directed by John Landis and starring Don Ameche, Chazz Palminteri, and Sylvester Stallone. In 1992, she w...

Model/Actress Anna Falchi

Anna Falchi was born Anna Kristiina Palomaki, on April 22, 1972, in Tampere, Finland. Her mother, Kaarina Palomaki Sisko, is Finnish, while her father, Benito "Tito" Falchi, is from Romagna, Italy. Growing up in Italy, Anna was a tomboy, and had a fervent imagination. She is known mostly for her prolific career in modelling. However, she tried her hand at acting and landed a role in one of my favorite Italian comedies, Nessun messaggio in segreteria . I consider it my one of my favorites because it brought together so many amazing, talented filmmakers during a time when they were all just starting out. Those filmmakers, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valerio Mastandrea, Luca Miniero and Paolo Genovese are now huge names in contemporary Italian cinema, so it's great to look back and see their work in a low-profile film completely different from the bigger-budget stardom they now know. Watch the trailer . Anna Falchi started her career as a...

Gianni Amelio: An Iconic Filmmaker Inspired by Humble Beginnings

The films of this year’s edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, the annual film series hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York, reflect a country in crisis. Italians are facing unprecedented economic challenges right now with the loss of jobs and a political infrastructure lacking the stability needed to get the country back on track. Each director featured in the Open Roads festival communicates that crisis in a uniquely different way; some with comedy, some with anger and resentment, and others with humble characters who will do just about anything to put food on the table. This brings me to veteran director, Gianni Amelio, and what a class act. I had the pleasure of talking with Amelio while he was in New York promoting two films included in this year’s edition of Open Roads- a documentary titled, "Happy to be Different," which explores gay life in Italy after the fall of fascism through the early '80s and "L’intrepido," the story of ...

A Conversation with Actor- Luca Calvani from Warner Bros. Upcoming Release "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

The cast and filmmakers of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in Rome A few years ago, I interviewed actor, Luca Calvani on the occasion of his U.S. release, When in Rome . Today, we are revisiting our conversation as he is promoting his much anticipated spy thriller, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the all-star cast includes Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. Based on the television series by Sam Rolfe, the story is set in the 1960's and follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin as they participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. The U.S. release date is set for August 14, but the cast recently did some press for the film in the Eternal City, where much of it was shot. Luca Calvani Born in Tuscany, Calvani has traveled the world following his career. He began working as a model in the 1990's...

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog