Roberta Torre on Past, Future, and Creative Freedom
In an interview for the 'Futuro Antico' series, Roberta Torre, an Italian filmmaker born in Milan in 1962, discusses her artistic journey. Her first film, 'Tano da morire' (1997), garnered several accolades, such as the Nastro d'Argento for best debut director and two David di Donatello awards. Torre draws inspiration from a diverse array of creators, including painters, photographers, fashion designers, and filmmakers. She characterizes 'Tano da morire' as a manifesto that encapsulates urban mythology and features non-professional actors. Highlighting the significance of genius loci, she notes its evolution from Palermo to distinct settings in her works. Torre cautions emerging artists against uniformity and points to themes like environment, posthumanism, and the preservation of memory for future generations.
Key facts
- Roberta Torre born in Milan in 1962.
- Debut film 'Tano da morire' won Nastro d'Argento for best debut director in 1997.
- Film participated in 54th Venice International Film Festival, winning Premio FEDIC, Premio Kodak, and Premio Luigi De Laurentiis.
- Also won two David di Donatello (best original score, best debut director) and two additional Nastri d'Argento.
- Torre cites influences including Paolo Uccello, Caravaggio, Jackson Pollock, Basquiat, Robert Frank, Nan Goldin, Yohji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood, Billy Wilder, Fellini, Antonioni, Wong Kar-wai, Béla Tarr, Paolo Sorrentino.
- She describes 'Tano da morire' as a film-manifesto combining true story, urban mythology, Palermo, non-professional actors, neomelodic music, and deconstructed American musical.
- Genius loci initially Palermo, later shifted to specific places like abandoned house in Bologna and house on Sperlonga coast.
- New film 'Mi fanno male i capelli' set on Sperlonga coast, with interiors inspired by childhood homes featuring Cassina furniture and Serge Mouille lamps.
Entities
Artists
- Roberta Torre
- Paolo Uccello
- Pietro Lorenzetti
- Caravaggio
- Jackson Pollock
- Basquiat
- Mario Schifano
- Emanuele Cavalli
- Canova
- Otto Dix
- Robert Frank
- Luigi Ghirri
- Sarah Moon
- Nan Goldin
- Vivian Maier
- Alex Prager
- Martin Parr
- Yohji Yamamoto
- Vivienne Westwood
- Billy Wilder
- Federico Fellini
- Michelangelo Antonioni
- Wong Kar-wai
- Béla Tarr
- Paolo Sorrentino
- Walter Benjamin
- Hunter S. Thompson
Institutions
- Venice International Film Festival
- David di Donatello
- Nastro d'Argento
- Spazio Taverna
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Palermo
- Bologna
- Sperlonga
- Naples
- Las Vegas