Una Vita Tranquilla, A Quiet Life.

A Quiet Life has now hit the International Festival scene, I am happy to see it doing so well, the reviews are excellent. I wonder if Italians realise in just how high esteem Toni Servillo is held outside its borders, Gorbaciof another of Servillo’s films from 2010 is also widely sought after, in fact in this years Italian Film Festival in London both were shown, as they say down under  “Good on you Mate”.

Director : It is Cladio Cupellini second full length film after Lezioni di coccolato, Chocolate Lessons released in 2007. Choosing such a difficult subject in today’s climate, is taking a risk for sure, making an ex hitmen from the Camorra likeable and on occasions even loveable takes guts. There are a number of sequence  and close-up shots done with great clarity and skill, the plot is good and the ending I guess inevitable.

Cast:  Toni Servillo, Marco D’Amore, Francesco Di Leva, Juliane Kohler, Leonardo Sprengler,  Alice Dwyer, Maurizio Donadoni.

Best moment : Brothers diving together, did it for me although the nailing of the tree came a close second.

Synobsis : Rosario (Toni Servillo) is an ex-hitman, who faked his own death and moved to Germany near Weisbarden, where he re-invented himself. Having started a new life as a hotelier and restaurateur with a new wife (Kohler) and a cute young son, life is truly good for Rosario, life is quiet for Rosario. The tranquility is shattered, when two bad ass Neapolitan youth arrives on the screen Diego (D’amore) and Edoardo (the awesome de Leva, if you like your man bad, you will want to take him home) they book a room at the Inn and trouble starts. The two Camorra hit-men are here to kill a disposal plant manager before he puts pen to paper and signs a contract, waste disposal is always big news and big money in Italy. There are some very strong scenes with the two sons as they relationship developes, there are beautiful scenes shot in the forest  always giving full attention to detail,  a priority in every frame, the nailing of the tree by Rosario was breathtaking, the sound track by Teho Teardo ever-present yet never intrusive  was  excellent.  As endings goes I guess this one was inevitable, strong acting from Toni Servillo brilliant as always was backed by both  Marco D’Amore and Francesco Di Leva .

Roberto Saviano, 10 reasons making it worth staying alive @ Feltrinellis !

Roberto Saviano , the writer of the  book  Gomorrah, recently appeared in Milano  at the Feltrinelli Bookshop, where he gave his 10 reason as to why it is worth staying alive, I would like to think it is a little bit tongue in cheek, as number 4 is likely to lose him a few fans in England , this man certainly likes to dice with danger.

Here is a list of 10 things that makes Mr. Saviano want to stay alive:

1) Bufala Mozzarella from  Aversana. I don’t think we can argue with that one uhmmm and I am sure he will have a free supply from this day on.

2) Billy Evans playing Love Theme from Spartacus. He is of course allowed his personal opinion, if it keeps him going who are we to snicker. Spartacus was in his eyes a rebel of his time fighting  the Camorra.

3) Take you best friend to see the tomb of Raffaello Sanzio and read the Latin inscription ignored by many. Ok, that will take some planning folks, as it is found in the Pantheon (Rome) under the statue of The Madonna by Lorenzetto. I will help you out though, here goes: “Ille hic est Raffael, timuit quo sospite vinci, rerum magna parens et moriente mori.” Meaning: “Here lies that famous Raphael by whom Nature feared to be conquered while he lived, and when he was dying, feared herself to die.” courtesy of Wikipedia. Now you just need to decide on which best friend to take with you to Rome.

4) The goal scored by Maradona against England in the 1986 world cup. 

I know, I am up in arms myself, we need to let this go, the man has been under a lot of stress and is still under police protection, I am sure he did not mean that !

5) L’Iliade. The Liiad  the son of Llion or Song of Llium attributed to Homer, Trojan war.

6) Bob Marley singing Redemption Song wearing his headphones walking along reading a book…… I know I am not over 4 myself but let it go, we all love Bob Marley , right?.

7) Throw yourself in at the deep end, the very deep no deepest end of the sea. Metaphorically speaking I hope he means the deep-sea that is life, unless you are a strong swimmer.

8 ) Dreaming  of your return home after you were forced to stay away for a long, long time.

9) To make love. Ahhh, nice ! I think we can all agree on that one folks, it is not just about shagging everything that moves you know , Saviano is speaking about LOVE .

10) After a day in which “they” collected signatures against you. You open the computer and find an e-mail from your brother , who  says, “I am proud you. ” You just cannot beat brotherly love.

The following clip gives you a chance to hear this in Italian.