Gabriele Mainetti's 'La città proibita' blends martial arts, cuisine, and romance in Rome

Gabriele Mainetti's third feature film, 'La città proibita', released on March 13 by Piper Film, intertwines martial arts, culinary arts, and romance across rural China and Rome's Esquilino district. The story follows Mei, a Chinese girl searching for her missing sister, and Marcello, a cook managing his family's restaurant with his mother Lorena amid debts left by his father Alfredo. Their paths cross, leading to a battle against cultural prejudices and ruthless enemies where vengeance and love collide. The cast includes Enrico Borello, Yaxi Liu, Sabrina Ferilli, Luca Zingaretti, and Marco Giallini. The film's promotional strategy involved comic artist Manuele Fior, who created a panel depicting protagonists Mei and Marcello fleeing through Rome, captioned with Mina's song 'E se domani'. Fior also authored the Epson 2025 calendar 'Fermo Immagine', paying homage to iconic film stills from the 1960s onward. Mainetti, known for 'Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot' and 'Freaks Out', co-wrote the script with Davide Serino and Stefano Bises. The film explores themes of love, tradition, prohibition, and betrayal, with red as the dominant color symbolizing passion and blood.