Italian Cinema Today

Marcello Fonte in a scene from “Aspromonte: La terra degli ultimi” A gifted actor, Marcello Fonte has made a career out of effortlessly transforming himself into every character he plays. Born in Melito di Porto Salvo at the southern tip of Calabria, Fonte learned his craft on the fly while working a variety of jobs, including fruit vendor, butcher and barber. During those years of balancing day jobs with small parts, he landed roles in Alice Rohrwacher’s “Corpo celeste” (Heavenly Body) and Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York.” In 2015, Fonte stepped behind the camera to co-direct as well as act in “Asino volo” (Donkey Flies), a coming-of-age story about Maurizio, a headstrong 7-year-old who has to fight to realize his dream of playing the snare drum in the town band. He does so with the counsel and support of a wise donkey and in the face of resistance from his mother, who views music as a luxury the family can’t afford. The film made its North American premiere at Canada...

Edoardo Pesce (left) and Marcello Fonte in a scene from Dogman Marcello (Marcello Fonte) is an animal lover who runs a neighborhood dog grooming business. He adores his pre-teen daughter and takes her on scuba diving expeditions. The two dream of visiting exotic places like the Red Sea, Hawaii, and the Maldives. Marcello also has a frailty about him and sometimes seems to feel inferior. He doesn't speak up on his own behalf, and people take advantage of him, especially the local bully, Simone (Edoardo Pesce). Marcello goes along with Simone's antics and even saves his life after he was hit during a drive-by shooting. However, things start spiraling out of control, and Simone makes a demand that Marcello strongly opposes. After Simone roughs him up and makes it clear that he won't take no for an answer, Marcello caves and ends up taking the fall for Simone. When he finishes doing time for the crime he didn't commit, he finds himself a changed man. Prison opened his ...