Sergio Castellitto and Anna Ferruzzo become Angelo and Angelina Vassallo in RAI's "Il Sindaco Pescatore"

I’ve been seeing a ton of press on social media about a new RaiUno fiction that will air tonight in Italy about a fisherman turned mayor. “Il Sindaco Pescatore” which literally translates to the “The Fisherman Mayor”, boasts an amazing cast and reconstructs the story of an honest man who stood up for his beliefs and in doing so, paid the ultimate price.

Sergio Castellitto portrays Angelo Vassallo, a professional fisherman who faced the dangers of his job knowing that he may or may not return from a day’s work on the tumultuous sea. Described as an “angry fisherman”, Vassallo was outspoken about his observations on the general disrespect of the environment and government policies whether local or national. So he decided to take matters into his own hands and run for mayor of his seaside town of Pollica, a commune of Salerno in the region of Campania. He was victorious in his pursuit and when he transitioned to a career in politics, the bravery and realism of his days at sea accompanied him as he fought for the rights of the people in his community.

Pollica, Italy

Vassallo remained the Mayor of Pollica for 12 years right up until his murder by the organized crime group of Naples- the Camorra. On 5 September 2010, Vassallo’s voice was silenced by nine bullets, but his memory, his values and the rage of his community for his untimely and violent death are still very much present today.

Angelo Vassallo’s brother, Dario, who is also president of the foundation that bears his name said in an interview with la Repubblica newspaper that “the movie will serve as a method of finding the truth.” The General Manager of RAI, Antonio Campo Dall'Orto, calls the film “a true public service”. He went on to say, “We are certain that this story will leave a mark in the minds of those who will be able to watch it on TV. It is important to RAI to leave in the minds of people something that can influence their behavior. Each of us is called to be part of a community. TV movies have a message and may therefore be a point of reference for future generations.”

Sergio Castellitto with Anna Ferruzzo in the background

The role of Vassallo’s wife, Angelina, is played by one of my favorite rising stars, Anna Ferruzzo. In preparing for the role, Ferruzzo told TVblog.it that she had the pleasure of talking with and getting to know Angelina. She acknowledged how the story of the Vassallo’s seemed more like a story of heroes, but she and other cast members made an effort to give a human dimension to their characters because they are and were such descent people. In talking about her costar, Sergio Castellitto, she said that he was just in love with this project and engaged with the story in such a way that left room for improvisation.

“Il Sindaco Pescatore” will air tonight on RaiUno. I haven’t seen any listings yet for the program to air on RAI International. Check back here or Twitter for updates.

Read my 2005 interview with Sergio Castellitto

Read my 2015 interview with Anna Ferruzzo

Comments

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" ...

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...

A Conversation with Actor Mirko Frezza of David di Donatello Winner "Il più grande sogno"

The 2017 David di Donatello award show, which took place on Monday, was an exciting event that celebrated many great contemporary talents of Italian cinema. I was fortunate to have seen most of the nominees. Among my personal favorites is Michele Vannucci's Il più grande sogno simply because it is based on one of the most inspiring, beautiful stories I've ever heard, and the person behind that story is as authentic and down-to-earth as they come. The film won the 3 Future Award, which is determined by the public. With Director Michele Vannucci and Actor Mirko Frezza I first saw Il più grande sogno last September when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival. I didn't make it to Venice, but thanks to a great online platform called Festival Scope , which offers a handful of premieres to be screened on the web, I felt like I was there. The film itself blew me away, and then when I realized it was based on a true story, I knew t...

The Sweetness and Genius of Giulietta Masina

Fellini and Masina on the set of "La Strada" As open-hearted and sunny as Federico Fellini was dark and complex, they were perfect counterpoints during a half-century of marriage and professional collaboration. Nicknamed a “female Chaplin” and described by Chaplin himself as the actress who moved him most, Giulietta Masina confronted the tragedy of her characters with an eternal innocence and enthusiasm that gave Italians hope in the most challenging of times. Born in 1921 in San Giorgio di Piano, a commune north of Bologna, Masina was the oldest of four children born to a father who was a music professor and violinist and a mother who was a grade-school teacher. Her parents sent her as a child to live in Rome with her widowed aunt while she attended school there. As Masina took an early interest in gymnastics, her aunt saw in her a passion for performing and encouraged her to pursue acting. So after high school, Masina attended Rome’s La...

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