TURIN. Raspy and rough, drenched in fog and salt, the voice of Cristiano De Andrè is a casket that holds echoes of his father Fabrizio. The baritone timbre is the same, as is the ancient calata, which takes us back to the Umbrian Genoa, muri and mainé sung in «Crêuza de mä». Cristiano and Fabrizio are two sides of the same coin and the director Roberta Lena wanted to tell them both. First with a play in which the son interprets his father’s album «Story of an employee», then in the documentary based on that show, «DeAndré # DeAndré – Story of an employee». Presented at the last Venice Film Festival, the film goes tonight at 9.15 pm at the Cinema Massimo, proposed by Seeyousound. “I have wonderful memories of that Venetian preview,” says Cristiano. “I had never taken part in a documentary and I didn’t expect it would be selected. Everyone in the lagoon liked it and this made me happy ».
What prompted you to confront for the first time in such a direct way with the figure of your father?
«I felt like opening the door of my father’s house in Portobello di Gallura, where I live most of the year today. I wanted the public to get a glimpse of that place that has been such a significant part of my life. There I grew up with him on bread and poetry, many passed through there who left a mark on Italian culture, from Villaggio to Tognazzi, from Ferreri to Petri ».
What relationship did you have with your father?
«Of so much conflict and as much love as one has with fathers. At first it was beautiful, then he had to change cities and unfortunately we stayed away. Whenever I could I followed his concerts first with the New Trolls, then with PFM. It was always a party, an opportunity to be with him and immerse myself in the world I loved most, that of music ».
What did he think of his choice to follow in his footsteps?
“He would have preferred me to be a vet. Or any other profession. He had foreseen that I would have a difficult life, he knew that they would always make comparisons. Later, however, he was happy and our relationship was further strengthened after I took care of the arrangements for “Salvation Souls”. When we were finally ready to do something together, he left. ”
What was the private Fabrizio De André like?
“For years he had problems with alcoholism, which made his mood swing. He went from outbursts of affection to difficult times when it was impossible to be close to him. Fortunately, when he stopped drinking things changed ».
When was the time you saw him happiest?
“When I was seven on a boat, when I caught a six-kilo snapper. She hugged me so tightly I thought she would break my ribs. And then in 1993, when I finished second in Sanremo with “Behind the door” ».
How heavy is it to be called De André?
“So much so that at times you feel crushed by it. But I tried my way, I recorded several albums first with Tempi Duri and then alone. And that surname now gives me the opportunity to re-propose my father’s works to a new audience ».
His father once said, “What I think is useful is to have the government as close to me as possible and the state, if you really can’t do without it, as far from the balls as possible.” Is it the manifesto of anarchy?
“Yes, and“ An Employee’s Story ”is about that. It is a work that seems to be written today, in advance of these times of hatred and intolerance, of fake news and violent language, with war at the gates. Being an anarchist, however, does not mean doing what you want, it means giving yourself a rule before others give it to you ».
Genoa in a word?
“Nest”.
What is the verse from your father that excites you the most?
«“ Nothing is born from diamonds, flowers are born from manure ”. There is everything there ». –
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