Dolceroma: A Satirical Film Exposing the Italian Cinema Industry

Fabio Resinaro's new film 'Dolceroma,' inspired by Pino Corrias's book 'Dormiremo da vecchi,' arrives in theaters on April 4, distributed by 01 Distribution. The film follows aspiring writer Andrea Serrano, who works in a morgue until producer Oscar Martello decides to adapt his novel. With a modest budget and an incompetent director, the project is disastrous. Lead actress Jacaranda Ponti, urged by her agent Milly, destroys all hard drives containing the footage. Facing pressure from distributor Remo Golia and his wealthy wife, Martello devises a plan to fake Jacaranda's kidnapping by organized crime to generate publicity. Detective Raul Ventura suspects fraud, but Jacaranda's actual disappearance complicates matters. The film features Claudia Gerini as the producer's wife, who bathes in honey—a recurring symbol representing excessive sweetness. Luca Barbareschi, who both produces and stars as Oscar Martello, notes that he incorporated traits from himself, Aurelio De Laurentiis, Pietro Valsecchi, and Claudio Gaeta into the character. Barbareschi stated, 'With my Oscar Martello I finally had the opportunity to say what I think in life. We are victims of mental degradation and we cannot not react.' The film blends comedy, action, and thriller, offering a satirical critique of the Rome-centric Italian cinema industry, highlighting a lack of courage and the prevalence of opportunism.