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

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 ...

The Timeless Talent of Stefania Sandrelli

On screen since the tender age of 14, she has captivated audiences for more than 50 years with a compelling combination of strength and vulnerability. She achieved stardom at just 14 years old playing the angelic cousin of a love-struck Marcello Mastroianni in Pietro Germi’s “Divorce Italian Style.” More than half a century later, she is still going strong and remains one of Italy’s most esteemed actors. Stefania Sandrelli was born on June 5, 1946, in Viareggio in the province of Lucca in northern Italy. As a child, she studied music and dance. Then in 1960, she won a beauty pageant and was featured on the cover of Le Ore magazine. Her purity captivated the country and shortly thereafter, movie offers began pouring in. Just one year later, she made her cinema debut in three feature films: Mario Sequi’s Gioventù di notte , Luciano Salce’s The Fascist, and Pietro Germi’s Divorce Italian Style . She instantly became a star and before long was a key figure in Italy’s legend...

Gianfranco Rosi to premiere 'Sotto le nuvole' at Venice Film Fest, exploring Naples' history

Documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi will premiere his much-anticipated latest film at the upcoming 82nd Venice International Film Festival , which runs August 27 - Sept. 6. "Sotto le nuvole" (Below the Clouds) takes a deep dive into the rich history and culture of Naples and the area surrounding Mount Vesuvius. There has not been much information revealed but so far, we know that the film will focus on themes similar to those explored by Rosi in his previous works, such as the examination of Roman culture in "Sacro GRA" (2013) and Lampedusa's refugee crisis in "Fuocoammare" (2016). The film's synopsis reads, “The land around Vesuvius is a vast palimpsest. On the surface, underground and even beneath the sea of the modern city of Naples and its surroundings, the memory of history is etched into tunnels, walls and fissures, the remains of women, children and men — statues, buried cities. Only thin layers separate contemporary and ancient life, an...

The Anthology Film Archives Presents: The Italian Connection: Poliziotteschi and Other Italo-Crime Films of the 1960s and '70's

June 19 – June 29 Influenced both by 1960s political cinema and Italian crime novels, as well as by French noir and American cop movies like "Dirty Harry" and "The French Connection," many Italian filmmakers in the late-60s and early-70s gradually moved away from the spaghetti western genre, trading lone cowboys for ‘bad’ cops and the rough frontier of the American west for the mean streets of modern Italy. Just as they had with their westerns, they reinvented the borrowed genre with their inimitable eye for style and filled their stories with the kidnappings, heists, vigilante justice, and brutal violence that suffused this turbulent moment in post-boom 1970s Italy. The undercurrent of fatalism and cynicism in these uncompromising movies is eerily reminiscent of the state of discontent in Italy today. ‘The Italian Connection’ showcases the diversity and innovation found in the genre, from the gangster noir of Fernando Di Leo’s "Caliber 9" ...

Riccardo Scamarcio Joins Cast of "John Wick 2"

Update to our original January 18 post.. - According to the Hollywood Reporter, the follow-up to John Wick has been given an official title — John Wick, Chapter 2 — and a release date from Lionsgate: Feb. 10, 2017. It's just been reported that Keanu Reeves is in Rome shooting his new film, "John Wick 2" with Italian actors Riccardo Scamarcio and Claudia Gerini . The film is an action-thriller and sequel to "John Wick". Shooting began last October in New York City. John Wick, played by Reeves, is a hitman that comes out of retirement to seek vengeance for the theft of his vintage car and the killing of his puppy, a gift from his recently deceased wife. The scenes being shot in Italy for the sequel reportedly take his career to the international level. Riccardo Scamarcio One of Italy's most recognizable faces, Riccardo Scamarcio has built a solid career based on the diversity in the roles he chooses and the intensity with which he plays the...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog