ANDhe goes at the cinema today 50 km per hour, third film directed and starring Fabio De Luigi, a road movie and training journey of two brothers (the other is Stefano Accorsi) who try to find themselves crossing theirs Emilia Romagna. Making up for lost time, stage after stage.
50 km per hourthe plot of the movie
Rocco (De Luigi) and Guido (Accorsi) are two brothers very different and divided by a conflictual relationship. They see each other again after years at their father Corrado’s funeral (Alessandro Haber).
A cynical and domineering man, still haunted by the memory of his missing ex-wife, whom the reliable Rocco has never abandoned. Unlike Guido, who instead chose to leave home very early to work on cruise ships, without ever returning.
Upon opening the will, the brothers discover that the father’s last wish is to have his ashes scattered on his wife’s grave never forgotten, and that Guido will take care of it. However, Rocco decides to accompany him: on board two old scooters the two embark on a journey through Emilia Romagna, direction Cervia. Rediscovering a bond that seemed lost forever.
The strange couple: Stefano Accorsi and Fabio de Luigi
At his third experience as a director, the Rimini native Fabio De Luigi wanted his almost fellow countryman Accorsi at his side. Bolognese native who, in the legendary Maxibon ice cream commercial of the 1990s, immediately became famous for the catchphrase “Du gust is better than uan”. Acted with free-range Emilia-Romagna accent.
Stefano Accorsi and Fabio De Luigi in a scene from “50 km per hour”. (Photo by Loris T. Zambelli)
The two actors they had never collaborated before. «Fabio and I knew little about each other – declared Accorsi to Press conference presentation of the film –, but I have always loved his grace, captivating and empathetic, he has a unique humour. I’m a huge fan of comedy and I wanted to make them after so many “serious” films. So I was very happy when he proposed the script to me and I accepted immediately».
A tender and “masculine” road movie
German remake 25 km/h by Markus Goller, released in 2018, 50 km per hour it definitely is a comedy where you laugh and get emotional. But there is much more inside.
In fact, if De Luigi’s previous films followed the tried-and-tested patterns of the family movie without too many pretensions, here the register combines comedy with the development of the genre coming of age.
And that is that of two fifty-year-olds “victims” of a dysfunctional and ramshackle family who help each other. The result is a non-trivial reflection on male emotions and blood ties. In which laughter mixes with an underground melancholy that gives a few moments of sincere emotion.
Stefano Accorsi and Fabio De Luigi in a scene from “50 km per hour”. (Photo by Loris T. Zambelli)
«I wasn’t born a director“, says De Luigi, “but I try to do as I have done so far, that is, to consolidate previous experiences to correct subsequent ones. The intent is always to improve myself and I think this is a more mature film compared to previous ones.”
The cast: Elisa Di Eusanio and the “local” character actors
For Elisa Di Eusanioactress turned famous in the role of head nurse Teresa Maraldi of DOC – In your hands, 50 km per hour And the confirmation of a special aptitude for comedy (see Blessed madness by Carlo Verdone e On the run with Santa Claus).
In 50 km per hourplays the role of Rachele, a woman who turns Rocco and Guido’s life upside down. «In this comedy – said Elisa in an interview Music Show – There are many family dynamics in which each of us can recognize ourselves. Fabio gave me a crazy gift because he entrusted me with a central moment of the film that is literally hilarious.”
Stefano Accorsi and Fabio De Luigi in a scene from “50 km per hour”. (Photo by Loris T. Zambelli)
The other female characters in the film are Barbara Previati and Miriam Previati, both comic actresses from Romagna. Like the famous cabaret artist Paolo Cevoli – in the permanent cast of Zelig since the dawn of the comedy show and famous for some very caricatured characters such as councilor Palmiro Cangini and entrepreneur Teddi Casadey.
The locations of the film 50 km per hour in Emilia-Romagna
The training journey of the two protagonists continues parallel to the geography of the region, struck right during the making of the film by terrible flood last spring.
«We had to change some locations – De Luigi continued –, fortunately the second part of the process saw a few days of good weather». The delays and changes allowed Fabio to discover places of his land unknown even to hedespite the very close connection with the territory.
Eliminating the distinction between Emilia and Romagna, 50 km then moves from the province of Bologna, to the Comacchio valleystouching Cervia, Ravenna, Cesena and the province of Forlì.
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