Based on a novel by American writer Stephen Amidon, "Human Capital" is a story of intricate emotions and human
qualities. Its characters are complicated, fragile and flawed. They struggle to
succeed, to find their passions, to love, to leave, to stay and to live. Yet
within each of them is a longing for stability and normalcy, to live life
to the fullest while being cradled in the love and support of the people
closest to them.
Anzaldo continually goes back and forth
between theater and film. He refers to theater as “the lifeblood of this business.
I think an actor should always have a relationship with the stage and with the
audience.” He describes theater as “a continuous flow, which starts at 9:00 in the morning and
ends at 10:00 at night. One scene in a film can turn into ten hours, and you must always
be effective. What I love most about cinema is the narcissistic aspect.”
The film begins at the breakdown of a
banquet when one of the servers is run off the road while riding home on his
bicycle. What follows is a series of chapters in which director Paolo Virzì
vividly takes us through the lives of several key players directly or
indirectly involved in the accident. This analysis uncovers the secrets and
struggles of the story’s characters. The film offers a side of Italian society
that we don’t often see in Italian films released in the U.S. Virzì sheds light on Italy's high society of CEOs, financial advisors, investors living lavishly in their urban sky scrapers, mansions and tennis courts. There is not one Italian stereotype in this film. The reason for this is perhaps the fact that it was
originally an American story written by an American author.
The cast is comprised of A-list Italian
actors that give top-notch performances. However, the performance that I felt was the most powerful and heartfelt comes from a newcomer named Giovanni Anzaldo. His performance blew me away. He gave so many beautiful attributes to
his character, Luca Ambrosini, and created a layered, complex, sensitive young
man hiding in the guise of a simple but troubled kid.
Luca Ambrosini enters the story as a mischievous
teenager waiting to see his therapist. He then appears every so often running
into one of the main characters. Then towards the end of the film, his personal
story unfolds and we are presented with this outstanding performance that
brings us right into the life and complete mess of this beautiful character,
making us long for more, wishing he was
introduced sooner.
I contacted Anzaldo shortly after
seeing his performance. In talking with him, I discovered the layered character
he created in "Human Capital" is not far from the layered character he is in
life, one that speaks in metaphors about his art, struggles and dreams for the
future.
Born in Torino to Sicilian parents,
Anzaldo told me that he dreamed of becoming an actor when he was in elementary
school but waited until he was older and more mature to pursue acting as a profession. Sometimes discouraged, he considered changing professions at various times through the years due to
lulls in work, “living intense moments followed by gaps and silences” that
caused him to question his choices. His short-term remedy to those questions is
“a couple of beers." He describes his temperament as “typical of the South” but
if asked where he is from, he will tell you Torino because, “I love that city.”
Anzaldo has worked on both sides of the
camera, and is also active in theater and television. He landed his first role
in 2009 on Mediaset’s crime series, "Distretto di Polizia." Following that
project, he worked in theater for a few years and then landed a coveted role in
Marco Tullio Giordana’s 2012 film,"Romanzo di una strage." The following year,
he was cast as Alessandro Gassman’s son in "Razzabastarda." Written and
directed by Gassman, "Razzabastarda" is the story of a father who made a career out of crime
and wants a better life for his son. Anzaldo won the Premio Gallio for Best
Actor.
Then along came "Human Capital" and the
amazing opportunity to be part of what would be a wildly international success.
“The film has deserved all the success it has had," explains Anzaldo. “It’s a
story about one province, but told in a universal, modern and emotional way.
The first screening I saw made me shiver. I almost could not believe it had
become such a beautiful jewel. For once, I did not point out my imperfections
as an actor (and there are many). I just let myself be carried away by the
historic moment in which I was living.” As for the film’s director, Paolo
Virzì, Anzaldo describes him as, “a great leader. He reels you right into his
game, engages you, and makes you feel important. For him, the actors are
everything. He cares for them and pampers them. He cared a lot for "Human
Capital." He invested all his energy right up until the end.”
Giovanni Anzaldo with his girlfriend, actress Giulia Rupi |
Anzaldo is as busy as ever these days. He
has three films which will be released this year. He dreams of one day writing
and directing a film. Anzaldo possesses a poetic innocence when he speaks of
his dreams, saying, “they’re called dreams because you do so with your eyes
closed, but when you open them and pursue them, you can only hope they will
make someone else happy.”
I am sure that he will make many
people happy through his immense talent and passionate outlook on
life. Thanks to Paolo Virzì for adapting this captivating book into a beautiful
film and for introducing international audiences to one of Italy’s brightest rising stars.
Click here to watch "Human Capital" on Amazon Prime. For more information, visit the film’s
website at http://humancapitalfilm.com.
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