As a seasoned cinephile who has traversed the vast landscapes of world cinema, I find myself captivated by the emergence of young Italian director Giovanni Tortorici, a 28-year-old prodigy hailing from the enchanting island of Sicily. His journey into filmmaking is as intriguing as his debut feature, “Diciannove,” which unfurls like a blossoming petal from the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section and the Toronto Film Festival’s Discovery program.
28-year-old Italian director Giovanni Tortorici, who previously delved into ancient Italian literature, later found his true vocation in filmmaking. Soon after, he crossed paths with fellow Sicilian Luca Guadagnino, an interaction that initiated a collaboration proving to be more fruitful for Tortorici than any lessons from a film school.
Director Guadagnino has created Tortorici’s first full-length film, titled “Diciannove” (Italian for “Nineteen”), which will premiere in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival’s Discovery program.
In a coming-of-age story from 2015, we follow 19-year-old Leonardo as he departs his sunlit hometown Palermo and heads to London to reunite with his sister and pursue business studies. However, his initial excitement quickly fades and Leonardo finds himself impulsively switching to the enchanting city of Siena in pursuit of Italian literature’s rich history. This decision sets off a profound journey of self-exploration for Leonardo.
In my enthusiasm, I chatted with EbMaster about the origins of “Diciannove” being deeply rooted in my own experiences, and how Guadagnino played an instrumental role in helping me translate that personal vision onto the silver screen.
I’ve read that this is a somewhat autobiographical work, so tell me a little about yourself
Born in Palermo, Sicily, I relocated to England at age 18 with aspirations to study business, much like a character from a film. However, my plans changed – as often happens in movies – and I found myself enrolled in a literature program instead, fueled by my profound love for the written word. This early phase of my life served as my foundation in the arts.
Could you share with me your deep-seated love for classical Italian literature? It seems that we both hold a similar enthusiasm, reminiscent of Leonardo’s own.
Absolutely, the movie strongly reflects my own experiences in this regard. You see, I wasn’t an outstanding student during my high school years. My grades were quite poor. However, at the age of 17, with the assistance of a private tutor, I was introduced to literature. This sparked a profound interest within me. I immersed myself in modern European and Western literature, including works by Proust, Virginia Woolf, Aldous Huxley, Balzac, and other classical authors. At a particular moment, I stumbled upon a book of essays about the history of literature penned by the 18th century writer Giuseppe Parini. It traced the origins of literature, and I remember encountering numerous names that were unfamiliar to me. As I delved deeper into these lesser-known authors, I felt a sense of exclusivity, almost as if I was on an intellectual journey unknown to others. In retrospect, I believe there was an element of pride involved in my exploration too.
Tell me more about how Luca Guadagnino helped bring “Diciannove” to the screen
Indeed, working side by side with Luca on “We Are Who We Are” over the years has been a profound experience for me. We’ve cultivated a deep bond, often finding ourselves immersed in discussions about cinema, art, and various other subjects. I believe this connection played a pivotal role in my shift from literature to cinema. You see, my approach to movies was previously akin to how one reads literature, which, as you can imagine, was far from accurate. Luca’s guidance has been instrumental in helping me refine my perspective and cultivate a more cinematic vision.
Through his guidance, I discovered my passion for cinema. After collaborating with him on various projects, I presented him with a script, which he enthusiastically responded to: “Wow, I adore it! I’d love to bring it to life as a production!” Being an action-oriented individual, he followed through and produced the film. This collaboration was pivotal in both the planning and execution stages, as he was well-versed in potential issues that might arise between directors and producers, such as location incentives, among other matters.
Luca empowered me by giving me the freedom to act upon my intuition in making decisions. He would often say, “Follow your heart. Never yield, for concessions can tarnish the masterpiece that is your life.” This was incredibly inspiring.
What’s on the horizon?
I’ve already written another script and I’m prepping a new movie. I showed it to some producers, including Luca and some financiers, and they are happy about it.
What’s your next project about?
The story revolves around two 16-year-old teens hailing from contrasting social backgrounds in Palermo. Unlike “Diciannove,” which delved deeply into literature and intellectual matters, this narrative focuses more on the raw, exaggerated aspects of adolescent life. I’m excited about filming it as it promises an engaging mix of teenage drama, girls, parties, substance use, soccer, and catchy tunes.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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2024-08-29 15:48