Surfer Chris Del Moro Returns to his Italian Origins for the Documentary Film "Bella Vita"

It's not exactly Italian cinema but it is full of heart and soul- the two most important qualities of any Italian filmmaker.

"Bella Vita" is the story of surfer Chris Del Moro's return to his homeland of Italy. His mother is American and met his father there while she was in college. The two split when Del Moro was a child, but he spent nearly every summer in Pisa with his father's family. For more than a decade, he was busy building an amazing career as a world-renowned surfer and artist. During those years, he didn't get back to Italy. This film marks his return after a 15-year absence.

Under Jason Baffa's direction with a beautiful soundtrack by Lee Ferris and David Bowick, "Bella Vita" is a nostalgic adventure through the heart of Tuscany and the vast, tumultuous sea surrounding the Italian peninsula. The film begins with Del Moro reuniting with his close friends and family in Italy. Before long, his surfer friends join him and they embark on a trip along the coast looking for some good surf. They don't find exactly what they're looking for but have a lot of fun while searching. After those friends leave, Del Moro takes the time to visit neighboring towns and cities, including Venice and some nearby marble quarries, perhaps in Lucca. There, we meet artisan craftsmen creating the handmade products Italy is known for. They tell us about the evolution of technology and how it's helped in making things a bit easier, even though the products are still artfully made piece by piece. He also introduces us to the new generation of surfers beaming with raw passion for what they do.

After Del Moro's melancholic story of family, friends and love, the aspect I appreciated the most while watching this documentary was the high quality of filmmaking. Baffa's pacing and timing is impeccable and works so well with the sometimes dramatic, sometimes thought-provoking soundtrack that brings us along with Del Moro and his friends as they ride the waves and explore the seaside and towns of central Italy. I also appreciated the opening collage of land and seascapes, which includes a stunning shot of Cristo Redentore above the sea of Maratea in Basilicata.

I am not familiar with the world of surfing, so this was my first introduction to Chris Del Moro. He is a gentle soul with a peaceful, tolerant nature. He embraces obstacles with his positive outlook and genuine concern for people and the environment. This is felt throughout the film but especially towards the end when he is commissioned to paint a mural along the boardwalk of a beach in Pisa. He embraces the bad weather and a crowd of school children wanting to contribute their stroke of a brush to his nautical masterpiece.

In what could have been a tearful ending, Del Moro turns into a positive experience as he visits his grandfather's grave to give him the proper goodbye that he wasn't able to give when he passed away. Then he literally rides off into the sunset with the backdrop of Tuscany's signature, elegant cypress trees. Del Moro is a great example for younger generations to follow, and all of us for that matter who tend to get caught up in the chaos of our own lives without taking a moment to pause and think about those around us.

"Bella Vita" is available through Netflix and Amazon Video. You can also find Chris Del Moro on Instagram, where it states that he's a vegetarian and environmentalist. We need more people like him in the world. Glad he's out there spreading the word.

Watch the trailer...

Comments

Actor Ivan Boragine on Gomorra, Growing up in Napoli and his Love for Theater

Neapolitan actor Ivan Boragine embraces everything that is Napoli. From his pride and passion to his nostalgia and sadness, Napoli is always in his heart. That is why his role in the popular Italian television series Gomorra has been the role of a lifetime. Not only has the worldwide broadcast (64 countries) skyrocketed him to fame, it has given him a way to bring to light the problems and corruption of one generation so that the next could have a better chance. I met with Boragine recently while I was in Rome. I found him to be down-to-earth and honest about the pride and love he has for his culture and also for his art. We spoke a lot about his hometown of Napoli and the impact the Neapolitan theater has had on actors. We also talked about his role in Gomorra and how it fuels his love for acting. Boragine got his start in acting a little over a decade ago when he landed a role in a local theater production of the Neapolitan classic, Miseria e Nobilità (Misery...

Italian Biblical Movies to Watch During Lent

Join me in beginning the Lenten season with my favorite adaptation of one of the Gospels- Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1964 “Il Vangolo Secondo Matteo" (The Gospel According to St. Matthew) and a few classics that I recently discovered. Considered by the Vatican to be among the best film adaptations of the Gospels, Pasolini's film was shot in the regions of Basilicata and Calabria. He cast his mother as Mary and many locals as extras. Spanish actor Enrique Irazoqui was cast in the role of Jesus. He was just 18-years-old when he landed the part. He had been in Rome at the time of casting and auditioned for the role. I contacted Irazoqui around this time last year to ask him about his experience making the film. He suggested that we have a conversation via Skype. Although the connection wasn’t very good, it was thrilling to talk directly with this actor whose film I had been watching for at least 20 years. He was very friendly and nostalgic in his recollections espe...

7 Days - 7 Women: Gina Lollobrigida

Update, January 16,2023: Gina Lollobrigida has passed away at the age of 95. On Day 3 of our week-long series, 7 Days - 7 Women, in which we are showcasing seven strong, talented women working as filmmakers, writers or visual artists, we celebrate the forceful, creative energy of movie legend Gina Lollobrigida. She has been called the most beautiful woman in the world and at 87 years old, she is still a sight to behold. Her outer beauty mirrors the talent and inner beauty of this true, complete artist. Lollobrigida, the iconic actress, photojournalist and sculptress, was born Luigina Lollobrigida on July 4, 1932 in Subiaco, Italy, a town located outside of Rome in the province of Lazio. Adored by fans all over the world, Lollobrigida has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Anthony Quinn and Shelly Winters. She acted opposite Bob Hope in his 1968 comedy, "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell," and...

Luminous Legacies: Yoichi Ohira’s Murano Glass at Magazzino Italian Art

A new exhibition in Cold Spring, New York, is bringing the luminous legacy of Murano glassmaking into focus through the work of Japanese artist Yoichi Ohira. “Yoichi Ohira: Japan in Murano” is on view at Magazzino Italian Art until February 2027. The exhibit showcases the work of Ohira, who became a leading figure in the design of Venetian glassworks on the island of Murano. The exhibition features works that highlight the uniqueness of Ohira’s art across the decades of his career. Ohira’s earliest Murano works blend Venetian glass techniques with his own style. These pieces show balanced shapes, clear surfaces, and striking color combinations. His Venezia e l’Oriente (Venice and the Orient) decanters reflect Venice’s ties to the East, creating vases inspired by Marco Polo’s tales with a modern twist. The exhibition shows Ohira’s respect for Murano’s glass masters, displaying objects alongside preparatory drawings that map ideas to the final works of art. It also explores ho...

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