Csays Fracci is the protagonist of the documentary Code Carla by Daniele Luchettiin cinemas starting today Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 November An original journey into the personal and professional life of the étoile who brought the name of Italy around the world. A portrait that passes from the artist to mother, from theaters to family life with her husband Giuseppe Menegatti and her son Francesco.
Building Carla’s memory are all the artists who worked with her and for her, and who were influenced by her. Like Roberto Bolle, Eleonora Abbagnato, Alessandra Ferri, Gaia Straccamore, Marina Abramovic, Chiara Bersani and Carolyn Carlson, Jeremy Irons. And then the personal assistant Luisa Graziadei and Vittoria Regina, the creator of his clothes.
Code Carla: the plot of the documentary
The filmproduced by Anele and Luce Cinecittà with Rai Cinema, is directed by Daniele Luchetti, who recently also worked on the documentary Raffa (on Raffaella Carrà). This time he puts another great artist under his magnifying glass. Luchetti takes us back in time through archive imagesin Carla’s life and on stage.
At the San Carlo in Naples together with Jean-Pierre Bonenfoux in 1969with Enrico Rava in 1975, in the late fifties, with Eduardo De Filippo, in 1961 while performing in Swan Lake And In the 1980 with Nureyev in Giselle. The dancer’s popularity is no mystery. Luchetti does not follow the biographical steps of danceroutlines its characteristics following topics such as the body, family, grace, soul, death and fame. Topics also discussed by colleagues and artists from other disciplines who however share belonging to what Francesco Menegatti calls “secret code». «A dark matter that keeps artists united», he says.
Carla Fracci, career
Carolyn Carlsondancer and choreographer, defines Carla Fracci as «a myth» who had the greatness of «being a splendid normal person». She left her mark, she enchanted thanks to her butterfly lightness, technical ability and talent. But the étoile was beyond myth. «I am a woman with a child and a husband first and foremost – he said – even if I work on tiptoe, my feet are firmly on the ground». Humility was a strength. The house was his refuge and despite traveling the world he did not give up on his son Francesco. She took him on trips and not to hotels, but often to friends’ houses.
Carla Fracci and Franco Zeffirelli in 1997. (Olycom)
The power of dance for Carla Fracci
Carla Fracci was technically impeccable, although, says Bolle «despite his very gifted physique he had limitations and he worked on these with determination, turning them into strengths». Behind that lightness and technical ability there is something else. «Dance is not just gymnasticsit’s not just feet and legs. The ballerina is not a beautiful mechanical machine – Fracci was keen to underline – behind dance there is a brain, feelings and passion».
That harmonious and abstract swirl must release feelings and emotions, just like performers, musicians or actors. Even those in the audience who were at the back of the theater must have felt this energy. And Carla Fracci had no rivals.
Dance to the music of Thom Yorke
Daniele Luchetti talks about Carla Fracci through the voices of admirers and colleagues, archive images that come contaminated with jazz and above all with the music of Thom Yorke (Also music supervisor of the film) gods Radiohead. «A perfect fit – the director defines it – which catapulted Carla into the contemporary world, Carla speaks to us today and tells us how much physicality wins over virtuality».
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