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

The Legend of Alberto Sordi - Rome's Eternal Son

′′They will always judge you, whether you behave well or if you behave badly. So screw it and live as you want but above all don't listen to anyone.′′ - Alberto Sordi By giving his fellow Italians something to laugh about during tumultuous times, he emerged as his generation’s King of Comedy. One of Italy’s best-loved personalities, Alberto Sordi played a pivotal role in Italian cinema from the end of World War II to the postwar economic boom of the 1950s. During those tumultuous years, he gave his countrymen a hearty laugh when they might have otherwise cried. Former Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi perhaps said it best: “Alberto Sordi interpreted the feelings of Italians, especially in their most difficult and tough moments.” Born in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome in 1920, Sordi grew up in a creative household. His mother was an elementary school teacher and his father, a professional musician for the Rome Opera House. A young Sordi joined the children’s choir o...

Alessandro Gassmann: Born to Act

Alessandro Gassmannin his directorial debut "Razzabastarda" Alessandro Gassmann is the son of the iconic Italian actor/director Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He was born in 1965 and grew up around cinema royalty. He made his cinema debut in 1982 at the age of 17 in his father's autobiographical film, "Di padre in figlio." He went on to study his craft under his father's direction at the Theatre Workshop of Florence. Vittorio Gassman was very active in theater and seemed just as comfortable on stage as he did in front of the camera. Known for his powerful interpretations of Dante's "Inferno" and "Paradiso," it is no surprise that he nurtured his son's acting aspirations on stage before he launched his career in television and film. One of Gassmann's strong qualities, which he undoubtedly inherited from his father is his incredible range and ease in going from genre to genre. He can play ...

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 ...

Portrait for a friend: 'How Strange to Be Named Federico'

Ettore Scola on the set of 'How Strange to Be Named Federico' A sentimental portrait for a friend, Ettore Scola’s 2013 “Che strano chiamarsi Federico” (“How Strange to Be Named Federico”) is both a tribute to Federico Fellini and a reflection on friendship, and an artist’s passion for filmmaking. Scola created a personal and imaginative film that moves between documentary, fiction, memory, and fantasy, bringing to life important moments he shared with Fellini during their decades-long friendship as well as highlights from Fellini’s own life and career while showing how deeply Fellini influenced Scola himself. The result is an inviting, nostalgic, and at times playful portrait of one of Italy and the world’s most beloved filmmakers. The film opens on the beach where a figure depicting Fellini sits in a director’s chair and watches performers audition for him. The beach is likely symbolic of Fellini’s roots in the seaside town of Rimini and his beach-going days on the c...

The Timeless Vision of Pier Paolo Pasolini

Pondering his films and poetry, I wonder if the uniqueness of Pier Paolo Pasolini's films was rooted in his unconventional childhood. Born in Bologna in 1922, Pasolini's father was a lieutenant in the army, and his family was always moving. He grew up in various small towns in Northern Italy. After his parents separated, he spent most of his time in his mother's hometown of Casarsa, in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. There, he grew to respect the area's peasant culture and began to write poetry in the region's dialect. He studied literature and art history at the University of Bologna and was drafted into the army during World War II. The war proved to be especially tragic for his family as his younger brother was executed by Communist partisans. Following the war, he returned to Casarsa where he worked as a teacher and ironically became a leading member of the Communist party there. Pasolini was later expelled from the party due to allegations of homo...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog