Asti International Film Festival, grand finale. Tonight the conclusion means the Lifetime Achievement Award a Octavia Piccolo, formerly the Best Actress Award at Cannes in 1970 and Nastro d’Argento 1987 for Ettore Scola’s “The Family”. Interpreter of films such as “Inglourious Basterds” (by Tarantino) and “Casino Royale” by Martin Campbell, the German actor Richard Collect will receive the City of Asti 2021 Award. For the actor Dino Abbrescia there is the “Joy and happiness” award named after the Bugnano twins, “friends of the culture and art of Asti” who recently passed away.
With special awards, including those to the winners in the individual sections. Six are those in competition: shorts, documentaries and feature films, both Italian and international. A seventh is dedicated to animated short films with Gino Vercelli as president of the jury. «The 120 titles in competition were selected from the over 400 proposals arrived for this eleventh edition – he explains Riccardo Costa, president of Asti Film Festival – In addition to the critical jury, three other juries were involved: the audience in the hall, school children, prison inmates ». In addition, prizes will be awarded to directors, actors and producers.
Event tonight is the expected presentation of the film “Notes from a salesman of women” from Fabio Resinaro based on the novel of the same name by Giorgio Faletti, bestseller of 2010 and long in the rankings. The film stars Mario Sgueglia, Libero De Rienzo, Paolo Rossi. A nocturnal tale illuminated by neon and the lights of the clubs of the good Milanese life. It is 1978. In the Milan to drink where Vallanzasca commands the bad, Bravo, played by Mario Squeglia, lives his life among luxury clubs, discos and gambling dens in the company of his friend Daytona, played by Paolo Rossi. Bravo defines himself as an entrepreneur. His sector is women: he sells them. But the life of a salesman of women is not easy, he will be upset by the arrival of Carla, played by Miriam Dalmazio. Just one night out of a gambling den will change everything. It will be the beginning of the end. «Another preview – Riccardo Costa anticipates – the short film “The hidden treasure” by Gianni Miroglio, text by Laura Calosso».
Before the appointments at Alfieri, the final day of the festival opens at 2 pm in Sala Pastrone with the latest screenings of short films, documentaries and films in competition. These are the titles: “Siete mil” by Francesco Semprini, “Ran” by Fjonir Baldursson (Iceland), “La inmortalidad de Las Letras” by Nei Loya (Spain), “Dorothy must not die by Andrea Simonetti”, “Tre visi” by Stefano Pesce, «The shadow covered by roach» by Mega Lee (Taiwan), «A family tradition» by Giuseppe Cardaci, «The Braibanti case» by Carmen Giardina, «The look at Venice» by Simone Marcelli.
Among the protagonists of the afternoon, actors and directors. At 4 pm, the meeting with the actor and director Stefano Pesce which brings «Tre visi» to the festival (at 4 pm): «A documentary-portrait of the city of Treviso through a history that passes through time thanks to the presence of three women. Tre Visi, three Souls who inhabit the city center resting on its water, generator of life and symbol of return to origins ». Actress and director, also expected Carmen Giardina, for the documentary «The Braibanti case», signed with Massimiliano Palmese.
Asti Film Festival is organized by Sciarada productions with the Vertigo circle, with the patronage of the Municipality, the Region and the Torino Piemonte Film Commission. Numerous partners: Biblioteca Astense Faletti, Hotel Aleramo, Albergo Etico, Tacabanda, Il Podestà, La Buta, Cpia, Asti Pride, Paper screens, Fridays for future, La Città del sole. Info: [email protected]; www.astifilmfestival.it.
Roberta Bellesini Faletti
“Giorgio’s book at the cinema is a dream come true”. Roberta Bellesini has lived from the very beginning the birth of the film “Notes of a woman seller” based on the novel by Faletti and directed by Fabio Resinaro.
Does this work embody a dream?
“Decidedly. Often there was talk of cinematographic transpositions of his books and Giorgio has always been enthusiastic about them. He was hoping to see at least one of his works on the big screen, it didn’t happen. And this saddened me. He will probably be enjoying this movie anyway, but not seeing him sitting in the front row at the cinema makes me a little melancholy. Having been determined to complete a film project somehow consoles me ».
Did you experience the birth of the film right from the screenplay?
«Not only that, I was also on the set in Milan. I lived it in an engaging way. I’m happy with the result, and it was a great experience. Fabio was very good at rendering the plot and atmosphere of the book on the screen. The actors are all very good. The thing that struck me most, that moved me the most, was to see on the set, by the protagonists and workers, the great affection and respect for Giorgio’s work. An affection that they projected on me, that enveloped me ».
Was Giorgio Faletti particularly attached to this book?
“In all the books there is a bit of its author, but in this one in particular there are many autobiographical aspects. Giorgio tells the Milan of the late 70s, the one he met when he moved to devote himself to cabaret. Daytona had another nickname but it really existed, the Ascot Club was the Derby. There is a lot of that experience in Milan, atmospheres, places and characters of those years ».
Faletti readers are always very many. Did La Nave di Teseo also re-publish «Notes from a salesman of women»?
«He has republished his novels with a new graphic layout, in a dedicated series. And I felt the joy of many of your readers who saw and enjoyed the film ».