Actress Paola Lavini on her Role in Giorgio Diritti's 'Volevo nascondermi'

Italians made their way back to the cinemas over the weekend and one of the most popular films to see was Giorgio Diritti's "Volevo nascondermi" (Hidden Away), the story of tortured artist Antonio Ligabue.

The son of an emigrant Italian mother, Ligabue was deported to Italy from Switzerland where he spent his childhood. He lived a life of solitude in a shack by the river for years. Meeting the sculptor Renato Marino Mazzacurati provided an opportunity to express himself through painting, the beginning of a redemption story in which he feels art is the only way to form his identity. “El Tudesc,” as people called him, was a lonely, introverted and often mocked and humiliated man. He became an imaginative artist who painted a fantasy world of tigers, gorillas and jaguars on the banks of the Po River. Ligabue’s art is a “fairy tale” from which a wealth of diversity emerges and his work over time has proved to be a gift to collective humanity.

"Volevo nascondermi" premiered in February at the Berlin Film Festival just before the world paused for the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the film has received a whole slew of nominations and awards.

Actress Paola Lavini plays Ligabue's love interest, Pina. Lavini is no stranger to Italian Cinema Today. We've met up with her numerous times in Rome at film festivals and cafés just to catch up over cappuccino. I asked her about her experience working on this film.

The Italian version follows..

Tell me about this character Pina and her place in this story.
Pina is a beautiful woman who approaches Antonio Ligabue out of opportunism, but with sincerity and tenderness. She meets him when he is already famous.

What did you do in terms of research to prepare for the role?
I called to mind many things about my grandmother from my Emilian origins. I looked at many paintings by Ligabue and watched many of his films to understand his world.

Tell me about your collaboration with Elio Germano.. 
It was fantastic. He is an extraordinary actor and a genuine person. It is exciting to work with good actors. They inspire you to give your best.

..And with Giorgio Diritti. What was your experience shooting with him?
I have been following Giorgio Diritti for years. I love his filmography. I love his style of directing and the way in which he makes decisions. I love his poetics. He is attentive to everything and everyone.

Paola Lavini in a scene from "Volevo nascondermi"

During the film, did you develop an appreciation for the art and struggles of Antonio Ligabue?
Absolutely. I also started painting again. I picked up the canvas and gave free rein to my imagination. I didn't know him very much and instead I looked at all his paintings with a keen eye, trying to emulate the desire for redemption he had through his art.

What do you feel is the importance of this film to the legacy of Ligabue?
Through this film, we discover Antonio’s real life, even before Ligabue–the little Antonio and then of the adult Antonio with his difficulties in showing affection. His life began in a ‘wrong’ way, perhaps, but he could right those wrongs through his painting. I believe that Antonio Ligabue is still little known as a painter and this film could be a way to make him known more, as he deserves, in Italy and in the world.

We'll keep you updated on when the film will be released in the United States. In the meantime, watch Lavini in the AMBI Pictures 2016 film "All Roads Lead to Rome," a romantic comedy set in Italy that stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Raoul Bova and Claudia Cardinale and in the 2005 HBO series, "Rome" in which she plays the ill-mannered trophy wife, Phyllis. Click here to watch the series on HBO Max.

Intervista in Italiano

Raccontami questo personaggio Pina.
Pina è una bella donna che si avvicina ad Antonio Ligabue per..opportunismo, anche se con molta tenerezza. Lo conosce quando lui è già ricco e famoso .

Cosa hai fatto in termini di ricerca per prepararti al ruolo?
Ho attinto molte cose da mia nonna, dalle mie origini emiliane e mi sono guardate molti quadri di Ligabue e tanti suoi filmati per capire il suo mondo

Lavini and Elio Germano in a scene from "Volevo nascondermi"

Parlami della tua collaborazione con Elio Germano 
Fantastico. Attore straordinario. Persona vera. E' stimolante lavorare con attori bravi. Dai il meglio

E con Giorgio Diritti... 
Inseguo Giorgio Diritti da anni. Amo la sua filmografia. Amo come dirige e le facce che sceglie. Amo la sua poetica. E' attento a tutto e a tutti.

Durante il film, hai sviluppato un apprezzamento per l'arte e le lotte di Antonio Ligabue?
Siiiii. Mi sono rimessa anche a dipingere. Ho ripreso in mano la tela ed ho dato libero sfogo alla mia immaginazione. Lo conoscevo poco ed invece ho riguardato con occhio attento tutti i suoi quadri, cercando di carpire il desiderio di riscatto che aveva attraverso la sua arte.

Qual è l'importanza di questo film per l'eredità di Ligabue? 
Attraverso questo film, scopriamo la vita vera di Antonio, prima ancora di Ligabue. Del piccolo Antonio e poi dell'Antonio adulto. Delle sue difficoltà negli affetti, della sua vita cominciata in modo 'storto', forse 'sbagliato,  e che lui ha saputo invece rendere 'vincente' attraverso la sua pittura. Credo che Antonio Ligabue sia ancora poco conosciuto come pittore e questo film potrebbe essere un modo per farlo conoscere di più, come merita, in Italia e nel mondo.