ITALY

2018 – color – 61’

Direction: Massimiliano Pacifico

Cinematography: Diego Liguori

Editing: Diego Liguori

Sound: Marco Saitta

Camera Operators: Diego Liguori, Massimiliano Pacifico, Stefano Renza, Eduardo Servillo, Gennaro Visciano

With: Toni Servillo, Petra Valentini, Davide Cirri, Francesco Marino

Production: Teatri Uniti in collaboration with Rai Cinema

Distribution: Kio Film

SYNOPSIS

The story of the human and artistic adventure of the making of Elvira, the show coproduced by Piccolo Teatro in Milan and Teatri Uniti – directed and performed by Toni Servillo – that Brigitte Jaques took from Louis Jouvet’s lessons at the Conservatoire in Paris in 1940. The authors’ gaze follows and unveils the encounter and work of Servillo and his three young companions – Petra Valentini, Davide Cirri and Francesco Marino – from the beginning of table rehearsals to the Venice Biennale and the landing at the Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris, through the labours and torments of the preparation at Teatro Bellini in Naples and the successful debut at Piccolo Teatro Grassi in Via Rovello, Milan.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“Filming Toni Servillo again on stage, after the successful experience of my previous documentary 394 Trilogia nel mondo, in which I had followed him on a very long international tour, was an important and stimulating challenge for me, and after all, the passion, charisma, determination and talent of such an extraordinary actor as Servillo are always stimulating. This time the work was in its embryonic phase, and rather than focusing on the need to adapt every evening to audiences from different nations and cultures, the challenge was to succeed in getting viewers passionate about the effort of creating a show and a character, together with three young actors with whom I could unequivocally show theatre at work.”

PREMI E FESTIVAL/ AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

2018 Mostra di Venezia – Author Day’s, Notti Veneziane Venice Nights

2019  Silver Ribbons: nominated as Best Documentary on Cinema