Davide Ferrario's Film 'Italo Calvino nelle città' Explores Writer's Life Through Cities
The film 'Italo Calvino nelle città', directed by Davide Ferrario and co-written with Marco Belpoliti, is set to debut in 2024. Produced by Anele in collaboration with Luce Cinecittà, Rai Cinema, and RS Productions, it delves into the life of Italo Calvino through both real cities (Sanremo, Turin, Rome, Paris, New York) and the fictional ones from his 1972 work 'Le città invisibili'. This release commemorates the centenary of Calvino's birth on October 15, 1923, and his passing on September 19, 1985. Unveiled in Genoa, the film features three actors representing various stages of Calvino's life and includes original interviews. Ferrario believes cinema should evoke rather than dictate. The soundtrack features Calvino's 'Canzone triste' and 'Ora mi alzo', performed by Zoe Tavarelli and Raphael Gualazzi.
Key facts
- Film 'Italo Calvino nelle città' directed by Davide Ferrario, co-written with Marco Belpoliti, release 2024.
- Production by Anele with Luce Cinecittà, Rai Cinema, RS Productions; supported by Film Commission Torino Piemonte.
- Film traces Calvino's life through real cities (Sanremo, Turin, Rome, Paris, New York) and imaginary ones from 'Le città invisibili' (Einaudi, 1972).
- Centenary of Calvino's birth: Havana, Cuba, October 15, 1923; died Siena, September 19, 1985.
- Presented in Genoa during 'Calvino Cantafavole' exhibition at Palazzo Ducale (Oct 15, 2023 – Apr 7, 2024); conversation moderated by Laura Guglielmi.
- Three actors: Filippo Scotti (young Calvino), Alessio Vassallo (adult in Turin), Valerio Mastandrea (older in Paris/Rome).
- Ferrario's previous films: 'La strada di Levi' (2005) on Primo Levi; 'Umberto Eco: la Biblioteca del Mondo' in Oscar race.
- Features locations: Cartiere Burgo by Oscar Niemeyer, Parco Dora, Villa dei Laghi, Cimitero Parco, Palazzo del Lavoro by Pier Luigi Nervi.
- Includes Calvino's song 'Canzone triste' (1958) by Sergio Liberovici, and 'Ora mi alzo' performed by Zoe Tavarelli and Raphael Gualazzi.
Entities
Artists
- Italo Calvino
- Davide Ferrario
- Marco Belpoliti
- Laura Guglielmi
- Filippo Scotti
- Alessio Vassallo
- Valerio Mastandrea
- Primo Levi
- Umberto Eco
- Oscar Niemeyer
- Pier Luigi Nervi
- Sergio Liberovici
- Luciano Berio
- Zoe Tavarelli
- Raphael Gualazzi
- Caterina Caselli
- Esther Judith Singer (Chichita)
- Giulio Einaudi
- Violante Placido
Institutions
- Anele
- Luce Cinecittà
- Rai Cinema
- RS Productions
- Film Commission Torino Piemonte
- Einaudi
- Palazzo Ducale (Genoa)
- Biennale Arte di Venezia
- Festival del Cinema di Venezia
- Cartiere Burgo
- Fiat
- Parco Dora
- Villa dei Laghi
- Cimitero Parco
- Palazzo del Lavoro
- Armeria di Palazzo Reale
- Biblioteca dedicata a Calvino (Paris)
- Oscar (Academy Awards)
- Festa del Cinema di Roma
- Mirari Vos
- Sugar Music
Locations
- Genoa
- Italy
- Sanremo
- Turin
- Rome
- Paris
- New York
- Havana
- Cuba
- Siena
- Castiglione della Pescaia
- Roccamare
- San Mauro Torinese
- Druento
- Mirafiori
- Place de Chatillon, XIV arrondissement (Paris)
- Via Umberto Biancamano (Turin)
- Spina 3 (Turin)
- Palazzo Ducale (Genoa)
- Loggia degli Abati (Genoa)
- Roma
- Torino
- France
- United States