Pierfrancesco Favino and the appeal on Italian actors

Indeed, in his speech, Favino spoke about the uniqueness of Italian cinema. And of the difficulties that he is forced to accept. «If even the roles of Italians are entrusted to American actors, if, for example, the entire Gucci family speaks in English with a New Jersey accent, it is difficult for us Italians – and I speak as an actor – to go beyond the confines of our national cinema“, has explained.

Adding: “But the responsibility also lies with our producers who accept this thing. So we’ll never get out.”

The text of the association Unit

Pierfrancesco Favino read the text of a document by the international press Unit, association of actresses and actors that protects the professional dignity of its members.

«In Italy, there have been workers in the audiovisual sector for months waiting for their national collective agreement to be renewed. The crew, the technicians, the workers and even the stuntmen operate in the absence of shared rules and modern and effective safeguards. Italian actresses and actors – unique in Europe – have never even had a collective agreement for their category establishing rights, duties and minimum wages and this is because the producers’ associations do not intend to sit down and bargain, effectively impeding the progress of the sector both in terms of industrial development and workers’ rights», he began.

The statement continues like this. «A country that wants to call itself civilized cannot continue to produce cinema and television in this way. For this reason the Italian voice actors have already gone on strike and the largest trade association of actresses and actors, Unithas decided to make this situation known by supporting trade union mobilization, from today until obtaining all the rights due to those who work every day with passion and professionalism to keep alive our imagination, our cinema, the wisdom and the culture of our country.

«In large productions the Italian roles are played by American actors»

Favino elaborated on the topic with some journalists. «A difficulty for us actors is the fact that, almost unique in the world, in large productions the Italian roles are played by American actors, therefore we have no possibility of returning to a world which, on the other hand, seems to be very afraid of doing the opposite».

He added, speaking of the film Nothing new on the western front. “We see an award-winning film which is a German film about a German story with a German director and German actors. It is not clear why when one comes to shoot in Italy, taking advantage of a 40% tax credit, the roles of Italians should not be played by Italian actors».

Then a criticism that is causing many discussions in Italy. «At a time when there is so much talk about inclusiveness and gender, we are the only exception for which this reasoning does not seem to apply. And instead there is the freedom to come to us to shoot. One time we represent Mexico, another time the whole Gucci family speaks with a New Jersey accent. Rightly, with this logic, they would never make me do Kennedy. I don’t see why someone should come from abroad to play Gianni Agnelli».

The success of Sabrina Impacciatore and the differences between Italy and France

Trying to explain his position, Pierfrancesco Favino proposed a general vision of the sector. «I see that in France and in Germany and in other countries, except perhaps the English-speaking ones that have a history of their own, there is product protection. What I see is that we have lost some respect for our cinema. We are treated differently than in the past.”

And then, mentioning the huge success of The White Lotus. «I’ll give the example of a series, for which my friend Sabrina Impacciatore is finally managing to have a journey in America too… An Italian character within a story in which there are Americans who arrive in Italy. And there are two American protagonists who arrive in Italy to make their story… But what is happening is that great actors – I’m not talking about me – are never considered for roles by the Italians who are the protagonists of the story. Not to mention the fact that it is new to me that Ferrari does not speak Italian or that members of the Gucci family speak to each other in American».

“All of this goes unnoticed by us, while we are witnessing an uprising in the world with respect to minorities, specificities, nationalities. We are the only country… I can’t think of another one».

He concluded like this. «Ridley Scott shoots the Napoleon in France, but it is an English production. Not French. And I know for sure that some French turn up their noses. But no production would ever dare to ask an American actor to play Yves Saint Laurent. They wouldn’t dare. But French cinema earned that respect there by saying: this is the limit. If you come to us and you have the possibility of having a 40% tax credit, then there must be regulation with respect to this».

The Last Night of Love: the new film with Pierfrancesco Favino

Pierfrancesco Favino took part in the Berlin International Film Festival (which ended yesterday, Sunday 26 February) to present the new film in which he is the protagonist, together with Linda Caridi. The Last Night of Love is a noir thriller directed by Andrea Di Stefano which will be released in theaters on March 9th. The film tells the story of the police lieutenant Franco Amore (Pierfrancesco Favino) who finds himself investigating a murder the night before his retirement.

This his last night of service calls into question the professional life of the lieutenant. But also all the emotional certainties of him, from his wife Viviana to his lifelong friend and colleague Dino.

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