We can bet that the Christmas film that will be released in Italian cinemas on November 3 will be a great success with the public. To be attractive will not only be the magical atmospheres typical of the anniversary, the snow, the lights, the lit fireplaces and the plot full of feeling. Above all there will be him, an accepted protagonist, the actor that we all regret and that we will have the joy of seeing again in the role of such a positive and warm character: Santa Claus.
Exactly one year after his death (November 2, 2020) which was also his birthday, Gigi Proietti returns to live for his audience, at least on the big screen. In the role of Santa Claus, flanked by a great Marco Giallini, cast in his character as a disenchanted and somewhat forced Roman, the great interpreter of the “Mandrakata” will virtually embrace all the spectators with the film “I am Santa Claus”.
Signed by Edoardo Falcone, the film hits theaters tomorrow with Lucky Red after being a pre-opening event at the Rome Festival.
Many duets, between Proietti and Giallini, in the sign of the Roman spirit, and a very Christmas ending. «What have I learned from Proietti? – Giallini comments – I learned from him even when I didn’t know him, from certain characters you absorb everything, they are always your references. It was a privilege to spend a lot of time with him, he became like a father to me. It wasn’t too clear that he was not feeling well, when he started the take he got up suddenly and looked like he was twenty years old. I often asked him “how are you? It hurts me to think so “… and he always replied with his irony:” I live on the mend “».
A documentary signed by Edoardo Leo is also arriving in cinemas: «Luigi Proietti known as Gigi». Here, on the other hand, we find the whole family of the magnificent Roman showman: the widow, Sagitta Alter, and the daughters Susanna and Carlotta. “It is a beautiful film, which fully reflects dad, he tells it in a complete way, we are all very happy about it”, commented his daughter Carlotta.
“In 2018 I had it in my head to make a documentary on” A me gli occhi please “- explained Leo -, the one-man-show of ’76 written by Roberto Lerici. I proposed it to Gigi who replied incredulously: “A documentary about me? And why?” After some hesitation he said yes and I began to do interviews, to collect material, to follow for months every performance of one of his shows wherever he was. Then his death. I stopped and I asked the family what to do. – explains the director – When they gave their consent I started working on it again but at that point the story of “To me my eyes became something else”: the attempt to discover the mystery of an artist capable of to unite high and low, to overturn, to seduce the classics by knowing them deeply, to unite the generations. It was a feat because Proietti did a lot and in the end it was a duty of love “.
Gigi Proietti on TV and radio: today’s programs in his memory
To remember the giant of the stage, of the small and big screen, today, 2 November, Rai redesigns the schedules with some of its most famous films, fiction, and the most successful television programs that have seen him as a protagonist. They range from the cult film Horse fever on Rai Movie, at the legendary theater show My eyes, please on Rai5, to all seasons of Marshal Rocca re-proposed on Rai Premium, up to the titles available on Rai Play.
The episode of Porta a Porta with Bruno Vespa will be in the memory of Proietti and the film will be broadcast on Rai Movie at 7.15 pm The Tosca, with the Roman actor alongside Monica Vitti (celebrated in these days for her 90th birthday) and Vittorio Gassman. Also tonight at 22.45 Rai Premium will propose Techetechete variety – Thanks Gigi, with some of the most famous and fun sketches.
At 15.50 on Rai5 Rai Cultura will propose My eyes, please, recorded at the Teatro Tenda in Rome and aired in 1976. Tribute to Proietti also on Rai Storia, starting from The day and the story, at midnight.
On the anniversary day, all the newspapers will dedicate large spaces and services to the commemoration of the great actor and director in the various national and regional editions and in the Radio Newspapers. On Rai Radio3 the memory will be that of Hollywood Party that on November 2nd will dedicate a special episode to Gigi Proietti live starting at 7pm.
RadioTechetè will remember Gigi Proietti by proposing a montage of some radio programs such as The hero on the sofa by Rita Cirio in which Proietti played Superman and an interview with Gigi Proietti contained in the RadioTechetè Shakespeare Special, edited by Silvana Matarazzo.
For the anniversary RaiPlay will prepare a dedicated slot on the home page, with titles from A bullet in the heart a The last Pope King; gives Italian Restaurant a The scam lord.
For the theater, however, there will be Gigi Proietti in Edmund Kean and archive programs Facts and deeds; Actor my love; Saturday night from nine to ten and The Pickwick Club.
Finally, on the Rai Cultura portal Special Gigi Proietti: a tribute to his extraordinary career.