“Opening the festival means opening the film to the eyes and the heart of the public. I take it as an opportunity to free a story that has been only mine for so long and that, I hope, will become everyone’s.” This is what Valerio Mastandrea said when his second feature as director, Nonostante [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], was announced as the opening film of the Orizzonti competition at the 81st Venice Film Festival (27 August - 7 September). The film, in which the popular Rome actor stars alongside Argentinian actress Dolores Fonzi (Paulina [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], Truman [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
making of
interview : Cesc Gay
fiche film], last year in her first film as director Blondi [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Dolores Fonzi
fiche film]), Lino Musella (nominated for the David di Donatello award for Bad Tales [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Fabio et Damiano D'Innocenzo
fiche film]), Giorgio Montanini, Justin Alexander Korovkin, Barbara Ronchi (winner of the David for Settembre [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film]), Luca Lionello (David-nominated for Cover Boy, recently in Padre Pio [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Abel Ferrara
fiche film]) and Laura Morante (David for The Son’s Room [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film], nominated five more times, recently in Un altro Ferragosto [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film]) will have its world premiere on 28 August on the Lido.

Amongst the most beloved actors of his generation, Valerio Mastandrea, 52, has won four David di Donatello awards for his performances in The First Beautiful Thing [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], Balancing Act [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film], Long Live Freedom [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Roberto Andò
fiche film] and Fiore [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
Q&A : Claudio Giovannesi
fiche film]. Recently, he acted in There Is Still Tomorrow [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Paola Cortellesi
fiche film], one of the five highest-grossing Italian films ever. His directing debut Ride [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Valerio Mastandrea
fiche film] (2018) won the Nastro d’Argento for Best Debut Feature.

The subject and the screenplay are by Enrico Audenino and Valerio Mastandrea. A man quietly spends his days in hospital without too many worries. He recovers soon enough, but this condition seems to be the best mode in which to live his life, sheltered from everything and everyone, without responsibilities and problems of any kind. It’s really nice in there, and even if some ward mates feel trapped, he feels free there like nowhere else. This precious routine runs smoothly until a new person is admitted to the same ward. She is a restless, angry companion, who does not accept anything of her condition, especially the unwritten rules. She doesn’t have the patience to wait, and instead wants to leave this place feeling better or even worse. She wants to live as she should or die, as happens to those who finish in there. The man is overwhelmed by that fury and first tries to defend himself, but then welcomes something incomprehensible. This encounter will help him accept that if he chooses to truly face his heart and emotions, there is no possible cure.

Nonostante is produced by Viola Prestieri and Valeria Golino for HT Film, Francesco Tatò and Oscar Glioti for Damocle, Moreno Zani and Malcom Pagani for Tenderstories with Rai Cinema. The editing is by Chiara Vullo, the cinematography by Guido Michelotti, the costumes by Veronica Fragola and Carlotta D’Alessio, the casting by Gabriella Giannattasio. The film will be distributed in Italian cinemas by BiM Distribuzione.