Skip to main content

Massimo Troisi: Forever in our Hearts

"Ci mancherai tanto, Massimo" - "We will miss you so much, Massimo" is the headline on one of the many websites dedicated to the memory of the great Italian screen comic Massimo Troisi.

Born in San Giorgio a Cremano, outside Naples, Troisi became involved in theater, co-founding with friends Lello Arena and Enzo Decaro the comedy troupe I Saraceni at just 17-years-old. Within a few years, the troupe, later re-named La Smorfia, became so well known, they were invited to appear on various national TV variety shows. In 1981, Troisi co-wrote, directed, and starred in his first feature film, the hugely popular "Ricomincio da tre" (I'm Starting from Three) and a new style of Italian comedy was launched.

The story follows the dark-eyed, handsome Troisi. As he exuded an extraordinary sense of innocence on screen, there was a relaxed quality to his work on this film- the absolute opposite of the style of his close friend and fellow comic Roberto Benigni. Troisi's character, always being caught up short, suddenly finds himself overwhelmed by what's going on around him, at which point he'll launch into a barely decipherable, Neapolitan-flavored monologue that attempts to make sense of what's going on. It's a richly humanist kind of humor that shows us new ways of discovering just about everything around us.

Over the next decade, Troisi would refine his screen persona and comic vision, always touching our hearts (and cracking us up) with a sweet, sly smile, whether he was time-traveling to the 15th century or trading barbs about Mussolini. Although we can only speculate where his artistry might have led him, the work he left behind guarantees that he will always hold a coveted place in Italian cinema. Perhaps the finest contemporary heir of the great tradition of commedia all'italiana, Troisi tragically passed away in 1994 at the age of 41, one day after completing principal photography for "Il postino," the film that launched him to the international spotlight.

Among his hit films, "Non ci resta che piangere" (Nothing Left to Do But Cry) is an absolute favorite of mine. Starring two comic geniuses, Troisi and Benigni, the 1984 fantasy film follows elementary school teacher Saverio (Benigni) and his cousin Mario (Troisi) as they seek shelter from a sudden storm in an old house buried in the Tuscan hills. The next morning they discover they've somehow been transported to the 15th century. Naturally horrified at first, Saverio realizes this is his big chance to change the course of history: if only he can get to Spain in time to stop Columbus from discovering America. Along the way the two will have a run-in with Savonarola (who they advise in a letter to "take it easy") and get to reveal some possible inventions to Leonardo da Vinci, not to mention find time to romance Amanda Sandrelli. The film is a unique opportunity to watch two of Italy's contemporary comic masters at their very best.

In the 1992 film, "Pensavo fosse amore invece era un calesse" (I Thought it was Love) Tommaso (Troisi) and Cecilia (Francesca Neri) quietly go about their lives; he manages a restaurant, she works in a bookshop. They've been together quite a while, and finally decide to make it official and get married, which actually marks the beginning of all their problems. Just before the happy occasion, Cecilia gets cold feet. She accuses Tommaso of being lazy and unfaithful. For his part, Tommaso comes to think that maybe marriage wasn't such a good idea. After all, they're in Naples, where passion and romance are among everyone's favorite hobbies. Everything's cool, it seems to have worked out for the best, but then Tommaso discovers that Cecilia has taken up with someone else. It's a great romantic comedy with some hilarious plot twists and graced once again by a superb supporting cast, especially Marco Messeri, who plays Enea, the new love interest who turns out to be much more than Cecilia bargained for.

And of course, there is our beloved, "Il postino" (The Postman), which was directed by British filmmaker, Michael Radford in 1994. Based on the novel by Antonio Skármeta, the film is set on a small Italian island on which the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (beautifully played by French actor Philippe Noiret) is living in exile. Mario (Troisi), a fisherman's son who can't stand the water, is drafted to serve as an additional mail carrier mainly to service Neruda, who receives dozens of letters each day. The two begin a careful, tentative friendship; Neruda tells Mario a few things about poetry, and Mario tells him about his life. Then Mario catches sight of Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta), the café owner's beautiful daughter. Mario wants to let her know how he feels about her, but just can't find the words; so who better to ask for help but a world-famous poet? A gentle, delicate description of the evolution of a friendship, "Il postino" avoids large dramatic scenes and instead focuses on the nuances of the relationship between Neruda and Mario, despite their enormous differences. Troisi had never been better, and it's hard to imagine a better tribute to his great talent.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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" ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more