Interview: Valentina Lodovini on her role in Alessandro Piva's "Milionari"

Last week, "Milionari" opened in theaters across Italy. Inspired by one of the Camorra's most notorious Neapolitan crime bosses, the film is an action-packed, emotionally-charged drama, which offers a glimpse into the life of an infamous gangster and the trauma one woman endured as she stood by the man she loved.

I talked with actress Valentina Lodovini about her role portraying that fascinating woman, Rosaria. Our interview was done in Italian, so both versions are included.

Tell me about your character.
Rosaria is a woman, not a criminal. She has nothing to do with the business or power of the Camorra. She has just fallen in love with a man who is a criminal. My character, otherwise, is just one aspect of organized crime. We call this the Omertà, which describes a person who does not complain about the injustices that lie before him or her. It is someone that prefers not to know and not to ask questions.

Raccontami il tuo personaggio nel film "Milionari".

Rosaria non è una donna criminale, non tratta mai con il potere della Camorra ma ha scelto un uomo criminale. Il mio personaggio è comunque una sintesi di uno degli aspetti della criminalità organizzata L’omertà. Quando si parla di omertà non ci si riferisce solo a chi non denuncia un sopruso ma anche a chi preferisce non sapere e non fare domande.

Since the film was based on a true story, what did you do to research your character?

I’ve portrayed other characters inspired by true stories, and I have always avoided doing research on them because I don’t want to risk imitation. I always try to approach the portrayal of a true character with my own sensitivity and work in trying to build the excitement that is the story of the film.

Il film è basato su una storia vera.. che cosa hai fatto per la ricerca del tuo personaggio?

Già altre volte ho lavorato su personaggi realmente esistiti ma evito sempre di fare una ricerca su di loro. Non voglio cadere nel rischio dell’imitazione. Cerco sempre di avvicinarmi con la mia sensibilità al personaggio e lavoro cercando di ricostruire l’emozione che il film vuole raccontare.

What were the challenges in playing this role?
In a few scenes, I wanted the viewer to feel an intimacy like that of the actor Alain Delon as he always tried to separate the criminal world from the private life of his characters.. but it was a beautiful challenge. I always kept this is mind whether in a scene of silence or with a family having lunch and talking to each other.

Quali sono state le sfide in questo ruolo?
Poche scene che però dovevano accompagnare lo spettatore nell’intima di Alen Delon, un’intimità che lui ha sempre cercato di tenere lontano dal mondo criminale. È una bella sfida questa. In ogni scene dovevo tenere sempre presente tutto, anche il silenzio e la quotidianità di un pranzo di famiglia dovevano raccontare qualcosa.

What do you feel is the moral of this story?

I don’t pretend that my work will change the world but I know well that telling a story like “Millionaires” is important because it offers a look back without rhetoric or bigotry and helps us to understand the present because in this story, we find Italy today. This is a fact.

Vorrei sapere la tua opinione nella morale di questa storia?

Io non pretendo con il mio lavoro di cambiare il mondo ma farlo conoscere sì. Raccontare una storia come quella dei “Milionari” è importante perché senza retorica o fanatismo ci si guarda indietro per capire il nostro presente. Nei “Milionari” ritrovi L’Italia di oggi. È un dato di fatto.

We'll keep you posted on international distribution for this film.

Related articles:
Director Alessandro Piva
Actor Salvatore Striano

Comments

In Conversation with Talia Shire

She has immortalized two of the most memorable characters in American cinema and now she’s promoting her new film that mirrors issues facing the working class. Talia Shire became a household name in the 1970s with her role as Connie Corleone in "The Godfather" and Adrian Balboa in "Rocky"– two characters that went on to experience tremendous growth in the sequels of both films. Shire and her brother, collaborator and director Francis Ford Coppola grew up in a family that embraced the arts. Their father Carmine Coppola was a renowned flutist and composer. He often took his children on the road when he performed. So there was always that creative energy and sense of adventure present in their childhood and adolescent years. “What you have to understand is that Francis is probably the greatest writer. He and Mario (Puzo) did Shakespeare and the Greeks. So people who love "The Godfather" are really listening to literature. He went on and did what ...

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 ...

A Conversation with Sergio Castellitto

Sergio Castellitto has made a profound impact on world cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. Born in Rome in 1953, Castellitto graduated from film school in 1978 and credits American cinema with pushing him toward a career in acting. His work has garnered numerous accolades, largely due to his immersive, original approach to projects in film, television and theatre. Castellitto is fluent in French and English, which has contributed mightily to his international stardom. But it's the actor's trademark brown eyes and charming everyman qualities that have lent his various characters -- even the ones that are rough around the edges -- an air of dignity that other actors might not have achieved. Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini, 2005 Films such as "Paura e Amore," "L'uomo delle stelle," "Caterina va in città," and "Bella Martha" heralded Castellitto as a versatile artist with far-reaching abilities. But it ...

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 ...

Interview: Cristina Scabbia of Italian Heavy Metal Band- Lacuna Coil

Photo by Jeremy Saffer ( http://store.jeremysaffer.com/collections/tenthirtyoneinc ) Lacuna Coil is a heavy metal band whose unique sound and creative music videos have catapulted them to international stardom. The band consists of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro on vocals, Marco Coti Zelati on bass, Cristiano Migliore and Marco 'Maus' Biazzi on guitars and Cristiano 'CriZ' Mozzati on drums. All members hail from Milan and bring to the table their own signature talent. A few years ago, the internet buzz about Lacuna Coil's music videos prompted me to check them out on YouTube. I've been hooked ever since. Their videos are creative vignettes shot all over the world, directed by cutting edge filmmakers in Europe and the United States. Although Lacuna coil is considered a heavy metal band, the unique melodies in their songs are rarely found in traditional heavy metal. The range of the band is also something you rarely see in this genre of mus...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog