Scherzetto

A childhood home where you no longer live. A city you left behind. A balcony, an emptiness, the voices of the street rising up with their obscene vitality – and then the challenge between a grandfather and his young grandson. The grandfather, Daniele Mallarico, is over seventy. A renowned illustrator, now widowed, he lives alone in Milan. His grandson is Mario, five years old: a little rascal who speaks like a grownup, knows everything, can do everything, and has an explanation for everything. His parents are immensely proud of him. It was Betta, Daniele’s daughter, who asked him to return to Naples, to the family home, to look after Mario for a few days while she and her husband Saverio attend a conference. But she could never have imagined what would happen… Between four walls and a balcony, a true duel unfolds, forcing Daniele to confront his own ghosts.

I fell in love with Domenico Starnone’s novel Scherzetto (Trick) right from its title. Two characters placed at the opposite poles of life, a family situation that often becomes comic, a single room, and a haunting presence. But as the film took shape, my own ghosts began to appear – difficult companions to keep under control – and I started pursuing them through the lens of my camera. I don’t think Toni Servillo was merely interpreting a character either; he entered an unknown territory, one ruled by the unpredictable presence of a five-year-old child who, at any given moment, might have said: “Enough, I’ve had enough” (and he actually did!). But we made it. And now everything seems so light. Seems.

PRODUCTION 1:
MAD ENTERTAINMENT - Maria Carolina Terzi, Luciano Stella, Carlo Stella, Lorenza Stella, Mauro Luchetti
Piazza Del Gesù Nuovo 33
80134 Napoli, Italy
Tel: +39 0815527106
E-mail: lorenzastella.ls@gmail.com
Web: https://www.madentertainment.it/
Social Media: @_madentertainment_ - Instagram

PRODUCTION 2:
RAI CINEMA - Paolo Del Brocco
Piazza Adriana 12
00193 Roma, Italy
E-mail: anna.pomara@raicinema.it
Web: https://www.rai.it/raicinema/

PRODUCTION 3:
EDI - Francesco Grisi, Giorgia Priolo,
Via Giovanni Battista Bertini 11
20154 Milano, Italy
Tel: +39 0229061316
E-mail: teamproduzione@effettidigitali.it
Web: www.effettidigitali.it
Social Media: @effettidigitaliitaliani

PRODUCTION 4:
PICOMEDIA - Roberto Sessa,
Piazza dei Martiri di Belfiore
00173 Roma, Italy
Tel: +39 063234500
E-mail: info@picomedia.it

WORLD SALES:
Rai Cinema International Distribution - Fulvio Firrito
Via Tuscolana
1055 Roma, Italy
E-mail: fulvio.firrito@raicinema.it
Web: http://www.raicinemainternationaldistribution.com

ITALIAN DISTRIBUTION:
01 Distribution - Luigi Lonigro
Piazza Adriana 12
00193 Roma, Italy
E-mail: cristiana.trotta@raicinema.it

PRESS OFFICE:
Gloria Zerbinati
Tel: +33 7 86 80 02 82
E-mail: gloria.zerbinati@gmail.com

ITALIAN PRESS OFFICE:
Olivia Alighiero - PUNTOeVIRGOLA
Tel: +39 3356303795
E-mail: info@studiopuntoevirgola.com