VINODENTRO
Faust meets wine.
Could a subtle and secret passion driven by taste,
smells and flavors lead an ordinary man to lose his soul... ?
A.L.B.A. Produzioni srl
Sede Legale: Via degli Olmetti, 5/b 00060 Formello (RM) - P. IVA 03817851003 – C.C.I.A.A. RM 699632
C. Soc. int. versato: € 55.000,00 - Iscr.Trib. Rm n. 2657/90 - Tel. 0645428920 - Fax 0645428927
www.albaproduzioni.it [email protected]
PRODUCTION DETAILS Production ALBA Produzioni S.r.l. In association with Moodyproduction S.r.l. With the collaboration of: Trentino Marketing and Trentino Film Commission Producers Sandro Frezza ‐ F. Vicentini Orgnani Rosanna Seregni ‐ Evelina Manna Film Title Vinodentro Country of Origin Italy Language Italian Genre Black Comedy Director Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani Subject Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani Based on the Novel By Fabio Marcotto Edited by Curcu & Genovese Script Heidrun Schleef Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani Cast GIOVANNI CUTTIN: Vincenzo Amato ADELE: Giovanna Mezzogiorno THE PROFESSOR: Lambert Wilson INSPECTOR SANFELICE: Pietro Sermonti MARGHERITA: Daniela Virgilio B/W Colour Colour 2
Running Time 100’ Delivery Format 35 mm Filming Locations Italy: Trentino Time of Shooting 6 weeks Start of Shooting 25/08/2012 Release date 2013 3
SYNOPSIS It all started with the first sip of wine Giovanni Cuttin had in his life, at the age of thirty‐five. A “Marzemino”, like the one mentioned by Lorenzo Da Ponte in his libretto for Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”, a typical wine from a small area in the North of Italy, in the province of Trento. As the blood red drop met his tongue, the bank clerk felt a kind of transcendental and pleasant explosion in his brain and from that day on he was a different man. In only three years the shy, married and ridiculed bank clerk became the director of the bank, a tombeur de femmes and the most revered and popular wine expert in Italy. Just like the mysterious and charismatic “Professor” who convinced him tasting the excellent nectar had foretold him. The only event that the Professor, met accidently in a bar, with his foreign accent and piercing blue eyes hadn’t predicted, was that Giovanni Cuttin soon would be charged for the murder of his wife Adele. Being grilled at the police station by Inspector Sanfelice, Giovanni reflects on the last three years of his life, dominated by an only mad passion: wine. In order to taste more and more exclusive and expensive bottles, from an honest man and loving husband he turned into a thief, a liar, a cheater and nevertheless a star in the world of wine tasting. But also a murderer? Led by Sanfelice's rational method, the investigation becomes more and 4
more caught between the boundaries of reality and its dreamlike counterpart, like the pieces of a puzzle laid out on a table. What if Giovanni, like Faust, had met a diabolic force that had changed his life's coordinates, making it a very special journey, only to settle the score later? 5
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT – Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani Any film ends up being something very personal to the people who make it. In my case, this is even more so for a number of reasons. My family has been in the wine business since 1946; I grew up in a tiny village in the country of Friuli, surrounded by a big vineyard. I clearly still remember those meaningful moments when, after the winter lethargy everything came to new life in spring. And then the pruning, the constant fear of hail, the endless attention to the weather conditions, what makes the difference between good and bad vintage… and finally, the festive
atmosphere of the grape harvest, when everybody reaped and shared the tangible fruits of their own efforts. I remember my grandfather saying: “A great wine comes from the vineyard, not from the cellar". Simply put, he meant that in order to have an excellent wine one needed to produce excellent grape. The skills, the art of transforming it into wine only came second. In 1976, a big heart quake destroyed the whole region, we lost the house and we moved to a nearby city, Udine. Even though at a certain point in my life I followed a different route, I am still fascinated by that world. Also thanks to my brothers, who still work every day in the family vineyard, I am constantly fed with news and information. 6
For quite a few years, I have been thinking of telling a story about the “world of wine”. Not only because I can clearly benefit from my direct knowledge and personal experience, but also because I firmly believe that
an Italian film centred on this topic could easily appeal to an international audience. Wine is an important aspect of our culture, a witness of the Italian identity that can reach every corner of the planet. Italian wine is undeniably excellent both in quality and varieties, and it can also rely upon a likewise inimitable ally: Italian cuisine. A “winning pair” like no other country can boast. I firmly believe that even the technical characteristics of wine have a spectacular quality. Just like the language used by expert wine tasters, accurate and dynamic in its creativity, wine is defined by such a complex pattern of flavours and perfumes that even endless categories and references hardly manage to describe them. We immediately liked the novel by Fabio Marcotto, clearly inspired by the Faustian myth. It was a good subject to develop into a story for a feature film. Our protagonist is led to think back to and explain the radical changes occurred to him in his recent past through the rational lens of a police investigation. Noir and comedy at the same time, the story features a circular structure. The narrative plot is driven by memories that determine the two‐face 7
reality experienced by the protagonist. Fragments of life are suddenly altered in weight and importance; some become completely useless; others, meaningless at first, become vital. The film as I see it, must surprise and entertain the audience. The visual style must be elegant and accurately devised, just like the rituals that pertain to the world of wine. We want to tell the audience something new about a product we consume every day, to unveil its fascinating history and mythology, free from the stereotypes of films that have touched upon this subject in the past. 8
DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY FERDINANDO VICENTINI ORGNANI In 1992 Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani graduated in film direction from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome and was selected to represent Italy at the film School Oscar in LA. He directed the feature film „Mare Largo“ (1998), „The Cruelest Day“ (2003) for which Giovanna Mezzogiorno won the David di Donatello and „Hannover“ (2001) a TV feature film. In recent years, he directed several documentaries: „68 ‚Utopia della realtà“ (2007) „Percorsi di pace“ (2008), screened at the Venice Biennale. The documentaries „Zulu meets Jazz“ (2007) and „Time in Jazz“ (2009) are a collaboration with jazz musician Paolo Fresu. In addition Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani is the co‐writer of the script „A Children‘s Story“ (2004), directed by Antonio e Andrea Frazzi which was nominated for the Nastro d’Argento. It is the winner of the Crystal Globe at the 2004 Karlovy Vary Festival and received the Fassbinder Prize at the European Film Awards 2004. He produced many films and documentaries, including „Viva Zapatero“ (2005) directed by Sabina Guzzanti (Nastro D’argento) and her more recent film „DRAQUILA ‐ Italy is trembling“ (2010) which was in the Official Selection at the Cannes Festival 2010. Furthermore he produced the feature films „The Speed of Light“ by Andrea Papini (2007), „Another world“ by Fabiomassimo Lozzi, „Rochstalghia“ by Toffanetti & Barison 9
(2008), the Italian‐South African co‐production „The Italian Consul“ by Antonio Falduto and „Apartment in Athens“ by Ruggero di Paola. WRITER BIOGRAPHY HEIDRUN SCHLEEF One of the most famous Screenplayer in Italy, Heidrun Schleef, born in Germany, has collaborated with important Italian directors such as Nanni Moretti (Il Caimano – The room of the Son) Gabriele Muccino (Remember Me) Stefano Incerti (L’uomo di Vetro) Mimmo Calopresti (La parola amore esiste) Michele Placido (Un Viaggio chiamato Amore) Michele Soavi (Arrivederci Amore, Ciao) and Roberta Torre (Mare Nero). Awards Remember Me – Best Screenplay 2003 Silver Ribbon La Parola Amore esiste – Best original Story 1999 Silver Ribbon Nominated The room of the Son –Best Screenplay 2011 David Di Donatello 10
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VINCENZO AMATO ‐ Giovanni Cuttin Girl on a Bicycle di Jeremy Leven, 2012 Storia di Laura di Andrea Porporati, 2011 La Scuola è Finita di Valerio Jalongo, 2010 Did You Hear About the Morgans? di Marc Lowrence, 2009 Einstein di Liliana Cavani, 2008 Il Dolce e l’Amaro di Andrea Porporati, 2007 Nuovomondo di Emanuele Crialese, 2006 Respiro di Emauele Crialese, 2002 Once We Were Strangers di Emanuele Crialese, 1997 12
GIOVANNA MEZZOGIORNO ‐ Adele Basilicata Coast to Coast di Rocco Papaleo, 2010 La Prima Linea di Renato De Maria, 2009 Vincere di Marco Bellocchio, 2009 Palermo Shooting di Wim Wenders, 2008 Love in the Time of Cholera di Mike Newell, 2007 La Bestia nel Cuore di Cristina Comencini, 2005 Ilaria Alpi – Il Più Crudele dei Giorni di Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani, 2003 La Finestra di Fronte di Ferzan Ozpetek, 2003 L’ultimo Bacio di Gabriele Muccino, 2001 13
Lambert Wilson ‐ ‘Professore’ 2012 Manipulations (TV movie) (post‐production) 2012 Alceste à bicyclette (post‐production) 2012 Henry V (TV movie) 2012 Ernest et Célestine (voice) 2012 Vous n'avez encore rien vu 2012 Sur la piste du Marsupilami 2012 À l'aveugle 2010 Uomini di Dio 2010 La princesse de Montpensier 2010 Imogène McCarthery 2009/I Victor 2009 The Philanthropist (TV series) 2008 Lazarus Project ‐ Un piano misterioso 2008 Babylon A.D. 2008 Baby Love 2008 Alibi e sospetti 2008 Dante 01 2007 Tous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke 2007 Un colpo perfetto 2006 Cuori 2005 L'anniversaire 2005 Gentille 14
Pietro Sermonti ‐ ‘Commissario’ 2012 Nero Wolfe (TV series) Archie Goodwin 2011 Qualche nuvola 2011 Tutto calcolato (short) 2011 Boris ‐ Il film 2007‐2010 Boris (TV series) Stanis La Rochelle 2001‐2009 Un medico in famiglia (TV series) Guido Zanin 2009 Un amore di strega (TV movie) 2009 Sleepless 2008 Amore, bugie e calcetto 2008 L'amore non esiste (short) 2007 Roulette 2007 SoloMetro 2007 Sweet Sweet Marja 2006 La moglie cinese (TV mini‐series) 2004 Il mistero di Julie (TV movie) 2003 Elisa di Rivombrosa (TV series) 2003 Un posto tranquillo (TV movie) 15
Daniela Virgilio ‐ ‘Margherita’ 2012 Workers ‐ Pronti a tutto 2012 Good as You 2012 Il commissario Rex (TV series) 2011 Hypnosis 2011 Immaturi 2008‐2010 Romanzo criminale ‐ La serie (TV series) Patrizia 2010 Ti presento un amico 2009 Intelligence ‐ Servizi & segreti (TV series) 16
Dante Spinotti ‐ DOP 2011 Tower Heist (director of photography) 2011 Chaos (TV series) 2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2009 Public Enemies (director of photography) 2008 Flash of Genius (director of photography) 2008 Visual Acoustics (documentary) 2008/I Deception (director of photography) 2008 Blue Blood (TV movie) 2007 Slipstream (director of photography) 2007 Women's Murder Club (TV series) 2006 The Contract (director of photography) 2006 X‐Men: The Last Stand (director of photography) 2005 Prison Break (TV series) 2004 After the Sunset 2002 Pinocchio 2002 Red Dragon (director of photography) 2001 Bandits 2000 The Family Man 2000 Wonder Boys 1999 The Insider (director of photography) 1999 The Other Sister 1998 Goodbye Lover 1997 L.A. Confidential (director of photography) 1996 The Mirror Has Two Faces (director of photography) 1995 Heat (director of photography) 1995 The Star Maker 17
1995 The Quick and the Dead (director of photography) 1994 Nell (director of photography) 1994 Blink 1993 Il segreto del bosco vecchio 1993 La fine è nota 1992 The Last of the Mohicans (director of photography) 1991 Frankie and Johnny 1991 Hudson Hawk 1991 True Colors 1990 The Comfort of Strangers 1990 Una vita scellerata 1989 Torrents of Spring 1988 Beaches (director of photography) 1988 Fair Game 1988 The Legend of the Holy Drinker 1988 Illegally Yours 1987 From the Hip 1986 Crimes of the Heart (director of photography) 1986 Manhunter 1986 Choke Canyon 1985 The Berlin Affair 1984 The Dark Side of Love (director of photography) 1984 Così parlò Bellavista
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Alessandro Lai – Costume Designer 2012 Bellas mariposas 2012 Magnifica presenza 2011 Apartment in Athens 2011 Angeli & diamanti (TV mini‐series) 2011 Eroi per caso (TV movie) 2010 Loose Cannons 2010 Linea nigra (short) 2009 Questione di cuore 2007 Un dottore quasi perfetto (TV movie) 2007 Saturn in Opposition 2005 Carabinieri: Sotto copertura (TV movie) 2005 De Gasperi, l'uomo della speranza (TV movie) 2003 Household Accounts 2002 Callas Forever 2002 Operazione Rosmarino 2002 Senso '45 2001 Once Upon a Time in Sicily 2000 South Side Story 2000 Rosa and Cornelia 19
Paolo Fresu – Composer 2012 Muri (documentary) (original music by) 2011 My Tomorrow (original music by) 2008 Zulu Meets Jazz (documentary) 2007 7/8 2005 Unclaimed (video short) 2005 Sopra e sotto il ponte 2004 I Can See It in Your Eyes 2003 The Island 2003 Il più crudele dei giorni 20
PRODUCERS BIOGRAPHIES SANDRO FREZZA He was born in 1963 and works in the movie business since 1985. He collaborated with the most important Italian production companies as Coordinator and Executive Producer: CRISTALDI FILM Srl, FASO FILM Srl, Magnum Film Production S.r.l., Pequod S.r.l., AGER3. He produced movies as Producer and Executive Producer. In these last years he realized different projects: “Appartamento ad Atene” by Ruggero Dipaola, “Il Console Italiano” by Antonio Falduto, “Draquila” by Sabina Guzzanti, “Il padre e lo straniero” by Ricky Tognazzi, “La velocità della luce” by Andrea Papini, “Maradona. La mano di Dio” by Marco Risi, “Viva Zapatero” by Sabina Guzzanti, “Certi bambini” by A.A. Frazzi, “Sulla mia pelle” by Valerio Jalongo. ROSANNA SEREGNI She has always been committed to production and to high quality cinema. Among the films produced whit tha company SINTRA there are: Alla rivoluzione sulla 2 cavalli (Maurizio Sciarra, 2001), Vodka Lemon (Hiner Salem, 2003), Tartarughe sul dorso (Stefano Pasetto, 2004), L’Enfer (Danis Tanovic, 2005), Persona non grata (Krzysztof Zanussi, 2005), Nacido y criado (Pablo Trapero, 2006), Il Richiamo (Stefano Pasetto 2009), executive producer. 21
In preproduction a 2011‐2012: Toxic Jungle by Gianfranco Quattrini, (Italy/Argentina/Perù/Brasile), El Ardor by Pablo Fendrik, (Italy/Argentina/Messico/Brasile) Vinodentro by Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani. As Associate Producer, in development 2012: Controra by Rossella De Venuto (Italy/Eire). In 2005 she received the FICE Award for Best Independent Producer of high quality cinema. She is member of the jury at the Screenplay Development Fund of Film Festival Amiens. She works as tutor for the TyPA Foundation (Argentina) Latin‐ America projects development workshop. Selector and member of the Jury for the New Cinema Network – Coproduction Market, Festival Internazionale del Film di Roma. She is member of Board BLS – Bolzano Alto Adige ‐ Sud Tirol.
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PRODUCTION COMPANY ALBA Produzioni Srl was born in 1990. It is an international film production company that has produced award winning documentaries, feature films and television series and special programs for television. ALBA has a versatile structure and a staff of dedicated professionals with international experience. The company has also served as executive producers on international productions filming in Rome. It’s been 20 years that the shareholders, Sandro Frezza, Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani work in the movie business. The last produced movies are “Appartamento ad Atene” by Ruggero Dipaola, “Il Console Italiano” by Antonio Falduto, “Draquila”by Sabina Guzzanti. In 2009 the documentary “TIME IN JAZZ….20” by Gianfranco Cabiddu and Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani and the feature titled “La misura del confine” by Andrea Papini. And then “ZULU meets JAZZ” by Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani with Paolo Fresu, in collaboration with ‘Sugar Music’ and Caterina Caselli. In 2007 it produced the documentary “Altromondo” by Fabio Massimo Lozzi and “La Velocità della luce” by Andrea Papini. In 2006 “Rockstalghia” by Emanuele Barison and Romeo Toffanetti and in 2005 “Viva Zapatero” directed by Sabina Guzzanti. Finally in 2002 “Hannover” an experimental tv movie directed by Ferdinando Vicentini Orgnani. 23
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