Silvio Soldini: the tastings, the passion for cinema

The first time that Silvio Soldini has read Tastingsthe novel by Rosella Postorino winner of the Campiello Prize in 2018, was when he learned that he would have directed the film based on that story that is today in the cinema, produced by Lumère & Co, in association with Anteo, in co -production with Tarantula and Tellfilm and in collaboration with Vision distribution and Sky. “I loved Rosella’s writing very much and, above all, the protagonist, Rosa: a woman full of humanity in her weaknesses and instincts”he tells Soldini, managed to give the story of the seven women chosen to taste Adolf Hitler’s food for fear that he was poisoned a new light.

What did you like about the book?
«The atrocity of the operation of the tastings itself. For more than a year, these women participated in a sort of Russian roulette since what they ate could cost them their lives. My concern was to make a costume movie that would play false, and that’s why I tried in every way to work with the departments so that it seemed all as real as possible ».

The most difficult scene to turn?
“All those who revolved around food: I tried a lot because I wanted the tension and the air of violence that released around that table was clear.”

It was the second time he had to do with a foreign cast later Burn in the wind: Did you have difficulty interfacing with the actors?
“I don’t think the language is a real rock, above all because, when you are in front of an emotion, the language leaves the time it finds. I was very impressed by the skill of the actresses and their enthusiasm: to see someone emit a positive energy on a complicated set like this is always able to make the difference. As for English, despite having lived two years in New York, I was quite rusty ».

When did Silvio Soldini live in New York?
«Between 21 and 23 years old. After two years of university in political science my father, understanding that I could not find anything that really thrilled me, asked me what would make me happy. So we looked for a school and arrived in New York, where I saw many old films, including those of the Nouvelle vaguebecause they were the ones who cost less at the box office ».

Ever thought of staying?
“No. My idea has always been to go to America, learn something that I didn’t know how to do it, and return to Italy. I come from a family of industrialists who had nothing to do with cinema, and this led me to try to understand a world more closely that was unknown to me and that, slowly, became my life. I learned a lot, thanks to my work ».

From Tastings What did Silvio Soldini learn instead?
«It is nice to jump into a new challenge without being discouraged by fear. In my career I have never tried to repeat a movie despite more than someone wanted to convince me to make a sequel to Bread and tulips: I think this work constantly needs to renew itself, and the best way to do it is not to look to the past but go further ».

Does it take more courage or unconsciousness to do it?
“Both. A little unconsciousness must always be there, because it is important to cultivate the child we have within us. Keeping the flames alive that has turned on the enthusiasm for this work is fundamental, otherwise we lose everything ».

This is why many long -term directors, such as Woody Allen, Marco Bellocchio and Clint Eastwood, continue to make films: do you wish such a career?
«I don’t know if I would be able to hold it, because the shooting phase is something very proven for me, that’s why I don’t think I would ever have the strength to turn a series. Working on a film is complex because, together with satisfaction, you risk comparing yourself with different dark moments, like those in which you don’t like anything about what you have shot and I would like to redo everything from the beginning. The knots, in this work, always come to the comb, but I would not be able to see me do anything else, because shooting is something that amuses me so much and to which I give all of myself ».