“P.For this role I immediately thought of a non-professional, I needed a truth that only the road would lead me. I needed a wound, I had to feel the anger in my blood, ”he said Francesco CostabileCalabrian director, illustrating A female, in cinemas from February 17 (Medusa Film).
Lina Siciliano: a complicated past
It was a fully responding to this need Lina Siciliano25 years old born in Cariati, a medieval village in Calabria, with a complicated past and a longing to survive and self-determination, right from the start, handed over to the director.
“Without a parental figure, I grew up in a foster home. At 20, driven by the desire for independence, I rented a house, supporting myself with occasional jobs “, says Lina who now lives in Naples, where she had gone to visit a friend and instead he knew love and planted roots.
Lina Siciliano at the presentation of “Una Female” at the Cinema Adriano in Rome. (Getty Images)
The phone call that changed her life arrived right in the Neapolitan city: «An educator from the family home where I grew up called me – she remembers – telling me that a director was looking for a Calabrian girl for his film. He insisted that I come down to auditionbut I was reticent, both because I had no idea what role it was and because I thought I had no chance ».
And instead, from the very first audition, Lina’s gaze remained imprinted on Costabile who strongly wanted her for the leading role of A female.
Lina Siciliano in “A female”. (Jellyfish)
A femalethe film
Set in Calabria and freely inspired by the book-investigation Rebellious women by Lirio Abbate, offers an analysis of the Mafia phenomenon told through the eyes of rebellious women, in fact. Like Rosa, the protagonist, who calls to mind Maria Concetta Cacciola, guilty of having turned their backs on the family by collaborating with justice, Giuseppina Pesce and Lea Garofalo, whose courage ended up dissolved in acid.
“These women, like so many others, have managed to claim their freedom, imploding the blood ties and codes of honor of the ‘Ndrangheta. They are the symbol of that courage that we should all have to emancipate ourselves, in every context, just as I did, too, in my small way, “says the debut actress that she has managed to eradicate the roots of her past. to cultivate the future he dreamed of.
For this reason she defines herself as a “rebellious female” e invites all women to find within themselves the strength to take a stand, and free themselves from the yoke of a mafia familyof bossy fathers, of violent husbands, of abusive employers.
The message launched by the film, in fact, is universalaimed at stirring the conscience: “Inside each of us there is a little Rose that paws and fights against a patriarchal society, to which it no longer intends to submit“.
A special role
The character insinuated himself into Lina’s soul to the point of becoming a model as well as a confidant: «We immediately entered into symbiosis – he says – we faced this path together supporting each other. Rosa dug me deeply, giving me the opportunity to express some feelings that have been held back for a long time“.
Certain that Rosa’s role will always have a special place in her heart, and why marked the turning point in his life both for the expressive power. The Calabrian actress finally declares herself free and emancipated, also thanks to the director who gave her the opportunity to discover a hidden gift.
Lina Siciliano with Fabrizio Ferracane and Mario Russo in a scene from the film.
Motherhood gives hope
“I reached the apex of emancipation 14 months ago, with the birth of my little Luca. With my partner I managed to build the family that I never had and, finally, I have the possibility to love and be loved », she adds, underlining that motherhood knocked on her door during the shooting of the film.
And motherhood also plays a significant role in A femalewhich sees in a new birth the hope of a distant destiny from the ‘Ndrangheta clans.
A future marked by light-heartedness and respect for women, values that Lina did not receive during her childhood, but now she is very keen to pass on to her son. On the other hand, as the actress and director point out, little Luca was essential to give Lina great support for a psychologically strong and demanding role.
The dream to cultivate
Still Lina finds it hard to believe in the unexpected success in her life, for the time being she quit her job as a cashier to dedicate to her son the attention she missed so much and hopes to continue her career as an actress that has just begun.
«I really want to cultivate and strengthen this passion, born in silence during the performances in the family home – he confesses. I would like to live another life, through the interpretation of another character, who will surely make me even freer ».
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