Mario Martone's documentary on Massimo Troisi premieres at Berlinale

Mario Martone's documentary 'Laggiù qualcuno mi ama' (Someone Down There Loves Me) premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) on the occasion of Massimo Troisi's 70th birthday. The film will be released in Italian cinemas as a special event by Medusa Film on February 19 and officially on February 23. Martone explains that the project originated from a screenplay by Anna Pavignano about Troisi's life, but he refused to cast an actor to play Troisi, leading to the documentary format. Pavignano provided materials including tapes, recordings, and notes. Martone highlights Troisi's rebellious nature, political instinct, and connection to 1970s Naples, as well as his unique approach to cinema, described as 'almost radical cinema.' The documentary assembles various materials to create a personal portrait, similar to Giuseppe Tornatore's film on Ennio Morricone. Martone emphasizes Troisi's strong female characters and his relationship with Pavignano, a writer and screenwriter linked to Troisi and the feminist movement. The film explores themes Troisi cared about: love, his ambivalent relationship with Naples, and his artistic discomfort.