Six weeks of filming (four in Apulia, in Gravina di Puglia and Poggiorsini, and two in Campania, in Apice) are currently underway on the latest film by Pippo Mezzapesa, entitled Il bene mio and starring Sergio Rubini in the role of Elia, who is the last one living in and holding onto the memory of Provvidenza, a ghost town devastated by an earthquake from 10 years previously.
The film, produced by Altre Storie with Rai Cinema and written by Mezzapesa with Antonella Gaeta and Massimo De Angeli, has received Youth Authors support from the Directorate General for Film of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism. Also appearing in the film are Sonya Mellah, Teresa Saponangelo, Dino Abbrescia, Francesco De Vito, and Michele Sinisi. The cinematography is being handled by Giorgio Giannoccaro, the set design by Michele Modafferi, and the costumes by Sara Fanelli.
Near Bagnoregio (VT) filming has been underway since 7 August on the latest endeavour by Alice Rohrwacher. Lazzaro Felice is a co-production between Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany, and is being produced by Carlo Cresto-Dina for Tempesta with Rai Cinema. The film will be the third work by the young director after Heavenly Body (Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes 2011) and The Wonders (Grand Prix, Cannes 2014). The story centres around a man on the margins of society who has been travelling through time for 50 years. Playing him, alongside several amateur actors, is Nicoletta Braschi, Sergi Lopez, Alba Rohrwacher, Tommaso Ragno, Natalino Balasso, Gala Othero Winter and Leonardo Nigro, as well as young first-time actors Adriano Tardioli and Luca Chikovani.