There are compliments and there are compliments. For a young Italian actress making her big screen debut, being compared to Giulietta Masina — best known for her work in front of the camera of Federico Fellini (who also doubled up as her husband), most notably La Strada and Nights of Cabiria — it’s definitely one of the better ones to receive.
But it was this that, Rebecca Antonaci explains, led director Saverio Costanzo to cast her as the lead in his Venice-bowing drama Finally Dawn (Finalmente L’alba in Italian). “Saverio told me that I, in some way, reminded him of Messina,” the 18-year-old says, speaking from Rome.
If Costanzo was looking for someone who could capture Masina’s renowned youthful, wide-eyed innocence, he certainly found it with this newcomer.
Set in the mid 1950s, in the golden age of the Italian capital’s historic Cinecitta studio (and the period where Masina...
But it was this that, Rebecca Antonaci explains, led director Saverio Costanzo to cast her as the lead in his Venice-bowing drama Finally Dawn (Finalmente L’alba in Italian). “Saverio told me that I, in some way, reminded him of Messina,” the 18-year-old says, speaking from Rome.
If Costanzo was looking for someone who could capture Masina’s renowned youthful, wide-eyed innocence, he certainly found it with this newcomer.
Set in the mid 1950s, in the golden age of the Italian capital’s historic Cinecitta studio (and the period where Masina...
- 8/30/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There have been numerous TV crime series from Europe pairing cops and clergy in the sleuthing. England’s “Father Brown” is among the best known and longest running. Italy has given us “Don Matteo,” with the superb Terence Stamp as a savvy priest. The French offering “Under Law and Grace” (“Priere D’Enquentere”) is a series of four 90-minute movies pairing police captain Elli (Sabrina Ouazani) and her assistant Franck (Jerome Robart) with novitiate monk Clement (Mathieu Spinosi) for murders with varying degrees of religious involvement. While most of these programs have been relatively light in tone, this quartet plays more as straight dramas.
The requisite initial mismatch of personalities is apparent from the get-go, as Elli, whose parents were Muslim and Jewish by birth but atheists in practice, and Franck (who is going through a messy divorce), head to a monastery. A monk was murdered, and a valuable bible was stolen.
The requisite initial mismatch of personalities is apparent from the get-go, as Elli, whose parents were Muslim and Jewish by birth but atheists in practice, and Franck (who is going through a messy divorce), head to a monastery. A monk was murdered, and a valuable bible was stolen.
- 5/31/2023
- by Mark Glass
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Terence Hill in “Don Matteo” on MHz Choice
If you’re in the mood for light-hearted mysteries with an engaging cast of characters, the subtitled Italian TV series “Don Matteo: Season 9” may suit your fancy. No TV program runs for over 20 years and 260+ episodes in Any country without considerable merit. Iconic actor Terence Hill stars as the priest in a little village who can’t help becoming a murder magnet, constantly involved in solving the crime of the day, usually to rescue one of his wrongly-accused parishioners. The local cops alternately rely on and resent his sleuthing, but it always leads to the right result within an hour of air time.
Hill became a global star in the 1970s largely from his wonderful comedic Spaghetti Westerns (most notably the Trinity flicks), among many pairings with Bud Spencer. The latter usually played a burly, grumpy sidekick to Hill’s playful lead in many successful light adventures,...
If you’re in the mood for light-hearted mysteries with an engaging cast of characters, the subtitled Italian TV series “Don Matteo: Season 9” may suit your fancy. No TV program runs for over 20 years and 260+ episodes in Any country without considerable merit. Iconic actor Terence Hill stars as the priest in a little village who can’t help becoming a murder magnet, constantly involved in solving the crime of the day, usually to rescue one of his wrongly-accused parishioners. The local cops alternately rely on and resent his sleuthing, but it always leads to the right result within an hour of air time.
Hill became a global star in the 1970s largely from his wonderful comedic Spaghetti Westerns (most notably the Trinity flicks), among many pairings with Bud Spencer. The latter usually played a burly, grumpy sidekick to Hill’s playful lead in many successful light adventures,...
- 4/6/2022
- by Mark Glass
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Fremantle has acquired 70% of Lux Vide, the 30-year-old Italian producer of Medici, Leonardo and Coco Chanel.
Under the deal, which forms part of Fremantle’s growth plan to invest in global scripted indies, the founding Bernabei family will retain the remaining 30%.
Luca Bernabei will continue as CEO and Fremantle Group COO Andrea Scrosati will become Chairman, with Matilde Bernabei taking an Honorary Chairman post and serving on the Management Board.
Founded in 1992, Lux Vide has gone on to produce more than 1,300 hours of primetime scripted content viewed in 144 countries.
The company became the first in Italy to win an Emmy for Joseph from The Bible Collection and picked up Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for co-produced Coco Chanel. Other big-budget credits include Netflix’s Medici starring Dustin Hoffman, Richard Madden and Sean Bean, Amazon Prime’s Leonardo starring Aidan Turner and Matilda De Angelis and Devils, the high-stakes financial thriller...
Under the deal, which forms part of Fremantle’s growth plan to invest in global scripted indies, the founding Bernabei family will retain the remaining 30%.
Luca Bernabei will continue as CEO and Fremantle Group COO Andrea Scrosati will become Chairman, with Matilde Bernabei taking an Honorary Chairman post and serving on the Management Board.
Founded in 1992, Lux Vide has gone on to produce more than 1,300 hours of primetime scripted content viewed in 144 countries.
The company became the first in Italy to win an Emmy for Joseph from The Bible Collection and picked up Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for co-produced Coco Chanel. Other big-budget credits include Netflix’s Medici starring Dustin Hoffman, Richard Madden and Sean Bean, Amazon Prime’s Leonardo starring Aidan Turner and Matilda De Angelis and Devils, the high-stakes financial thriller...
- 3/3/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
As 2020 comes to a close, Italy’s TV industry is mourning the recent death of Sara Melodia, who was head of drama at Italy’s prominent TV production company Lux Vide, the outfit behind “Medici,” “Devils” and the upcoming high-end “Leonardo” series.
Melodia, who died of cancer on Dec. 2 at 46, had been instrumental to the quantum leap that Lux — and, by extension, Italian TV as a whole — has made in the international market over the past decade.
Born in Milan, where she studied screenwriting and production at the Università Cattolica, Melodia started out at Lux in 1999 as a junior story editor, cutting her teeth first on ancient Rome mini-series “Augustus” and then on “Don Matteo,” the hit local show about a crime-busting priest that launched in 2000 and still reaps stellar ratings on public broadcaster Rai 20 years and 12 seasons later.
In 2007, when Lux was seeking to break out of national confines...
Melodia, who died of cancer on Dec. 2 at 46, had been instrumental to the quantum leap that Lux — and, by extension, Italian TV as a whole — has made in the international market over the past decade.
Born in Milan, where she studied screenwriting and production at the Università Cattolica, Melodia started out at Lux in 1999 as a junior story editor, cutting her teeth first on ancient Rome mini-series “Augustus” and then on “Don Matteo,” the hit local show about a crime-busting priest that launched in 2000 and still reaps stellar ratings on public broadcaster Rai 20 years and 12 seasons later.
In 2007, when Lux was seeking to break out of national confines...
- 12/29/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
High-end drama series “Leonardo,” starring Aidan Turner (“Poldark”) as the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci has wrapped its Italian shoot after becoming one of the first large-scale productions to resume production during the coronavirus crisis.
The series is co-produced and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. Producers also include Lux Vide with Rai Fiction and Big Light Productions, in association with France Télévisions and Rtve. It is the first Italian production to receive the backing of pan-European co-production initiative The Alliance, created last year by the major European public service broadcasters, Rai, France Télévisions and Zdf.
The series is created by Frank Spotnitz (“Medici”) and Steve Thompson (“Sherlock”) and directed by Dan Percival (“The Man in the High Castle”) and Alexis Sweet (“Don Matteo”).
The cast also includes Giancarlo Giannini (“Catch 22”), Matilda De Angelis (“The Undoing”), Freddie Highmore (“The Good Doctor”), Carlos Cuevas (“Merlì”) and James D’Arcy (“Broadchurch”).
Filming...
The series is co-produced and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. Producers also include Lux Vide with Rai Fiction and Big Light Productions, in association with France Télévisions and Rtve. It is the first Italian production to receive the backing of pan-European co-production initiative The Alliance, created last year by the major European public service broadcasters, Rai, France Télévisions and Zdf.
The series is created by Frank Spotnitz (“Medici”) and Steve Thompson (“Sherlock”) and directed by Dan Percival (“The Man in the High Castle”) and Alexis Sweet (“Don Matteo”).
The cast also includes Giancarlo Giannini (“Catch 22”), Matilda De Angelis (“The Undoing”), Freddie Highmore (“The Good Doctor”), Carlos Cuevas (“Merlì”) and James D’Arcy (“Broadchurch”).
Filming...
- 8/11/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s a first look at Irish “Poldark” star Aidan Turner as legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci in upcoming international co-production “Leonardo,” set to be released next year.
The first glimpse of Turner as da Vinci shows him learning his craft as a young apprentice and then reaching for greatness with his commission to paint The Last Supper.
The first look was compiled from original footage directed by Dan Percival and Alexis Sweet and is accompanied by a score from series composer John Paesano.
The high-end drama is produced by Lux Vide with Rai Fiction and Big Light Productions in association with France Télévisions and Rtve, and co-produced and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television.
The series was created by Frank Spotnitz and Steve Thompson, and is directed by Daniel Percival (“The Man in the High Castle) and Alexis Sweet (“Don Matteo”)
Giancarlo Giannini plays Leonardo’s master Andrea del Verrocchio,...
The first glimpse of Turner as da Vinci shows him learning his craft as a young apprentice and then reaching for greatness with his commission to paint The Last Supper.
The first look was compiled from original footage directed by Dan Percival and Alexis Sweet and is accompanied by a score from series composer John Paesano.
The high-end drama is produced by Lux Vide with Rai Fiction and Big Light Productions in association with France Télévisions and Rtve, and co-produced and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television.
The series was created by Frank Spotnitz and Steve Thompson, and is directed by Daniel Percival (“The Man in the High Castle) and Alexis Sweet (“Don Matteo”)
Giancarlo Giannini plays Leonardo’s master Andrea del Verrocchio,...
- 4/15/2020
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Aidan Turner examines an Italian masterpiece in this first look from upcoming TV drama Leonardo.
The Poldark star plays Leonardo da Vinci in the series, produced by Lux Vide with Rai Fiction and Big Light Productions in association with France Télévisions and Rtve, and co-produced and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television.
The series was created by Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle, Medici) and Steve Thompson (Sherlock, Doctor Who), and is directed by Daniel Percival (The Man in the High Castle, Death Comes to Pemberley) and Alexis Sweet (Don Matteo, Back to the Island).
Leonardo, due for release in ...
The Poldark star plays Leonardo da Vinci in the series, produced by Lux Vide with Rai Fiction and Big Light Productions in association with France Télévisions and Rtve, and co-produced and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television.
The series was created by Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle, Medici) and Steve Thompson (Sherlock, Doctor Who), and is directed by Daniel Percival (The Man in the High Castle, Death Comes to Pemberley) and Alexis Sweet (Don Matteo, Back to the Island).
Leonardo, due for release in ...
- 4/15/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Sky Italia has launched the first trailer for its highly anticipated thriller “Devils,” set to premiere in April on Sky. Produced by Lux Vide and Orange Studio with funding from Sky Studios, the series is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Global Distribution.
The trailer drops hot off the heels of news that Comcast-owned satellite TV operator Sky has unveiled its largest-ever content slate of 80 new originals o be broadcast this year, an increase of 25% from 2019.
Based on the best-selling novel by Italian trader Guido Maria Brera, the series unspools in the London-based offices of a major U.S. bank, around the time of the 2008 financial crisis. Massimo Ruggero, played by “Suburra’s” Alessandro Borghi, is a young, handsome banker from Italy and the company’s fastest rising star. On a winning streak that most stockbrokers could only dream of, he generates hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for his...
The trailer drops hot off the heels of news that Comcast-owned satellite TV operator Sky has unveiled its largest-ever content slate of 80 new originals o be broadcast this year, an increase of 25% from 2019.
Based on the best-selling novel by Italian trader Guido Maria Brera, the series unspools in the London-based offices of a major U.S. bank, around the time of the 2008 financial crisis. Massimo Ruggero, played by “Suburra’s” Alessandro Borghi, is a young, handsome banker from Italy and the company’s fastest rising star. On a winning streak that most stockbrokers could only dream of, he generates hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for his...
- 2/17/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Arrived in Venice, to be greeted by Terence Hill. Not in person, you understand, with brass band and Bud Spencer on trombone, but, turning on the TV in my hotel room, there was Terence, beaming blandly. . . . This seemed auspicious, not only because I’m here to cover the Spaghetti Western retrospective at this year’s Venice Film Festival, which includes two Terence Hill movies, but also because Terence is, apparently, as revealed by some remarkably tedious and unproductive research prior to this trip, Venice’s greatest gift to cinema. Indeed, it seems he is Venice’s only gift to cinema – or at any rate, the only one with any serious claim to international recognition. Which seems odd, somehow, given La Serenissima’s high profile in the film world due to the Festival, to say nothing of its appearance as a location in literally hundreds of movies, but there it is.
- 8/28/2007
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
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