Skip to main content

Actor Domenico Centamore: Pride and Passion for his Sicilian Culture

He’s had roles in some of the biggest Italian blockbusters of the new millennium and each time, he portrayed a fearless protagonist willing to fight until the end against organized crime. 

 Sicilian born actor, Domenico Centamore is proud of his heritage, expressing that pride by working on films that make strong statements against the corruption his culture has had to endure. He’s had roles in  popular mafia-themed films such as I cento passi (One Hundred Steps), La mafia uccide solo d’estate (The Mafia Only Kills in Summer) and Anime nere (Black Souls).

Centamore has an impressive list of credits to his name, always portraying complex characters, some of which seem to border on insanity. His gaze is penetrating, as you can see in the clip below from I cento passi with Luigi Lo Cascio, and he sincerely gives a performance that comes straight from the soul. When we began our informal interview a few weeks ago, Centamore at first seemed a man of few words but then his pride and passion for his Sicilian culture took over and he shared some very special cinematic moments with me. He's especially proud of the work he and his colleagues have done through filmmaking to take a stand against organized crime in their regions and communities. My intention was to talk about the numerous David di Donatello nominations and then sweep for Anime nere but he had so many other things he wanted to talk about. During our interview, I also learned that he is somewhat of a composer and was nominated for a David di Donatello for his work on Pierfrancesco Diliberto's (Pif) La mafia uccide solo d’estate.

Tell me about your experience working on Anime nere.
Working on Anime nere was an extraordinary journey in Calabria. Munzi managed to create a good mix of professional and non-professional actors. He made us recite our lines in Calabrian dialect, and for me it was my first acting experience that was not my dialect. My character, Rosario was a member of the Carbone family. The film shows the stark reality, and unfortunately is the true story of how people in these situations live. The story of Anime nere is really a Greek tragedy that takes place within the ‘Ndragheta of Africo, Calabria.

Since you were previously involved in the mafia stories,I cento passi”and La mafia uccide solo d’estate, was it meaningful for you to be involved with another film that speaks of the life-changing effects of the mafia?
I am from Scordia, which is located in the Sicilian province of Catania. However, Sicily and Calabria are similar lands where the gangs have done a lot of damage, as you can see in these films, Anime nere, I cento passi and La mafia uccide solo d’estate. So, it’s really been a privilege to take part in all these projects.

How do you feel about the success of Anime nere at the David di Donatello’s? 
I didn’t attend the David di Donatello awards show this year. However, I was there last year and had a very beautiful experience as I was a nominee for Best Original Song on another great movie, Pif’s film, La mafia uccide solo d’estate. I was at the premiere for Anime nere at the 2014 Venice Film Festival where we received 15 minutes of applause.
Tell me about the song you wrote for Pif’s film.
The name of the song is Tosami Lady. It’s a parody of the song by Ivana Spagna, an Italian singer that in the film, was deeply admired by the mafia boss, Bagarella.

(Check out the song below in the closing credits of the film)

You gave a beautiful, heartfelt performance in I cento passi alongside Luigi Lo Cascio. It seemed a very special role for you.
It was my first film, and remains in my heart for many reasons. The story of Peppino Impastato is heartwarming for Sicilians and he set an example for everyone. We traced his footsteps by shooting in the actual places in Cinisi (the town in which the film was made) where he spent time, and we got to know his mother. So, this character, Peppino, really existed and as we were shooting around town, many people came up to us and told anecdotes about Peppino and the character that I play. It created an extraordinary atmosphere among the actors and we really felt that we were doing something important. It was a unique experience because all the actors, including Luigi Lo Cascio were just starting out. It was also the producer, Fabrizio’s first film and Pif was working as an intern. Every time I see it, I still get emotional.



What are the similarities between Pif's La mafia uccide solo d'estate and Marco Tullio Giordana's I cento passi? 
The message is the same. Never forget these people who sacrificed so much for what they believed in.. and we must keep their memory alive.


 Centamore is currently working on two television projects. His latest, a role in Rai Uno's Il giovane Montalbano can be seen in upcoming episodes of the popular Italian series. Then in July and August, check him out in the role of Inspector Cariddi on Rai Uno's Lampedusa, a show about the illegal immigrants that arrive on the Italian island. Lampedusa has become the main entry point for immigrants from Africa. Many never make it because of the dangerous conditions on the boats. The issue has emerged as one of Europe's most serious and controversial topics, so this would be a great show to catch if you're in Italy.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anna Foglietta: Actress and Activist with Old School Elegance

One look at actress Anna Foglietta in her any of her roles, and the Golden Age of Italian cinema comes to mind. Among Italy’s most sought-after actresses today, Foglietta brings to the table a classic eloquence of yesterday while representing Italy’s modern woman. Born in Rome in 1979, Foglietta began her career in 2005 with a role in the RAI television series La squadra . Her character Agent Anna De Luca had a two-year run on the series as she was transitioning to cinema with Paolo Virzì’s 2006 ensemble project 4-4-2- Il gioco più bello del mondo . Since then, she has become one of Italy’s most diverse actresses, transforming herself into interesting, layered characters for comedies and dramas alike. Aside from a small part in Anton Corbijn’s 2010 film The American starring George Clooney, Foglietta’s work began reaching mainstream American audiences in 2015. As Elisa in Edoardo Leo’s 2015 comedy Noi e la Giulia , Foglietta showed her funny side playing a goofball pregn...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Emma Dante's 'The Macaluso Sisters'

In a moving story that spans several decades, “The Macaluso Sisters” follows five orphaned sisters born and raised in an apartment on Palermo’s outskirts. They support themselves by renting out pigeons for events, a unique and symbolic business that reflects their resourcefulness and the transient nature of their lives. Directed by Emma Dante, who adapted the script from her 2014 play of the same name, the film boasts an all-female cast that brings a unique power to the story. It unfolds in three chapters that show how the tragic events of one day haunt the sisters through childhood, adulthood and old age.   The first chapter reveals the tragedy of the youngest sister, Antonella, who dies during a beach outing. She remains a permanent presence in the household, never aging. The film returns again and again to the beauty of the day at the beach when tragedy struck. The apartment is a central character, housing the memories and rage each sister carries inside her. This exploration of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Director Gianni Di Gregorio explores relationships in later life with 'Never Too Late for Love'

In “Astolfo” (“Never Too Late for Love”), director Gianni Di Gregorio delivers a coming-of-age film for the golden years of life about a retired professor who leaves Rome to return to a tiny mountain village in Abruzzo. The film opens with the title character, played by Di Gregorio, walking through the streets of his Roman neighborhood, groceries in hand, only to find his landlord waiting for him when he arrives home. She is there to announce that he will have to vacate his humble residence to make way for her daughter, who is getting married soon.  After some contemplation, he calls his ex-wife to ask her about an old family castle he split with her in their divorce. When she confirms that a portion of the castle is his for the taking, he gleefully returns to his spacious new home only to discover it has been occupied by a squatter, who turns out to be an acquaintance from his childhood who is also down on his luck. Without hesitation, Astolfo adopts the man as his roommate. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Isabella Rossellini Pays Tribute to David Lynch

Three iconic women of Italian cinema took part in the Governors Awards on October 28 in Los Angeles. Sophia Loren gave a heartfelt tribute to her longtime friend and collaborator, director Lina Wertmuller, who received an honorary Oscar for her tremendous body of work that includes classic films like Seven Loves, Swept Away and Il Professore. Isabella shared the stage and translated Wertmüller's acceptance speech. Rossellini gave her own tribute that evening to American director David Lynch. She told the story of how the two met at a dinner when Lynch brought up the script that he was working on. Helen Mirren had turned down the lead role, and he was wondering if perhaps Rossellini would be interested in checking out his script. Well she did and the rest is history. That 1986 film, Blue Velvet , instantly became a contemporary classic and has remained a masterpiece of American cinema. The thriller co-stars Kyle MacLachlan and Dennis Hopper. Set in a small North Carolina town,...
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