TORONTO – Soprannominato “picchio” da suo padre quando era bambino, l’attore Pierfrancesco Favino era così innamorato di questo nomignolo che tentò di lanciare la sua carriera sostituendolo con il suo primo nome. Non sorprende che abbia abbandonato quell’idea abbastanza rapidamente, dato quanto sarebbe suonato strano “Picchio” quando veniva chiamato alle audizioni. Non era l’idea più brillante per un nome d’arte, né del tutto commerciabile. Ma perché quel soprannome? …
TORONTO – Nicknamed “Picchio” as a little boy by his father, Actor Pierfrancesco Favino was so enamoured with the moniker that he attempted to launch his career substituting it for his first name. Not surprisingly, he walked that idea back fairly quickly given how odd “Woodpecker” would have sounded being called out at auditions. Not the brightest idea for a stage name, nor entirely marketable. But why the nickname? He was vociferous as a child, given to fits and rages while often stomping on floors and banging walls – hence Picchio. But what his father might have shrugged off as childish petulance, revealed itself as steely determination and grit in his adulthood.
TORONTO – Italian Director Paolo Sorrentino, whose latest movie Parthenope is breaking box office records in Italy, has announced that his next film will be another collaboration (his eighth) with four-time David Di Donatello Winner Toni Servillo. The two famously worked together on the Oscar Winning The Great Beauty, The Hand of God and Il Divo. Sorrentino is not divulging much about the project other than its title – La Grazia – which he says will be a “love story”.
TORONTO – “Anna Magnani è sempre stata un riflesso della sua gente, di dove proveniva. E quindi ci manca una figura come la Magnani: così forte, così autentica, così vera e così professionale” – Attrice Monica Guerritore. Anna Magnani, l’attrice italiana ormai iconica, era una donna matura [secondo gli standard di Hollywood] quando finalmente sfondò con Roma città aperta (1945) di Rossellini…
TORONTO – “Anna Magnani was always a reflection of her people, where she came from. And so we’re missing a figure like Magnani: so strong, so authentic, so true and so professional” – Actress Monica Guerritore. Anna Magnani, the now iconic Italian actress, was a matured woman [by Hollywood standards] by the time she had finally broken out with Rossellini’s Rome: Open City (1945). Impressively, ten years and almost twenty movies later she would eventually win an Oscar playing Serafina Delle Rose in the adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play The Rose Tattoo. But a new biopic, just announced, will focus on the autumn of Magnani’s career, leaning into her role as a mother on and off screen.
