La splendid Palatine Chapel packed with people to take part in the story of the great director who wanted to reveal many curiosities about his life and his cinema. A very strong passion for cinema that of Ozpetek who has recently finished writing the screenplay of his next film while right now he is in Naples to direct Madama Butterfly at the Teatro San Carlo.
Passion that began in Istanbul when, after seeing a show dedicated to Cleopatra, he fell in love with the theater. From the age of 17, the director then cultivated his love for cinema in Rome, starting with courses at the Silvio D'Amico Academy and continuing with lessons at La Sapienza University, when he also dedicated himself to interviewing the best Italian directors with the hope of being chosen as an assistant director. Ozpetek immediately recalled the emotion of having worked for the great Massimo Troisi, an exceptional artist as well as a very special person. Naturally, throughout the evening, he never forgot Vittorio De Sica: "an absolute genius", one of the greatest Italian directors that Ozpetek also wanted to honor by watching some of his films. A great point of reference for Ozpetek who, until the success of the film "Le fate ignoranti", could not think of himself as a director: "Saying that I was a director seemed presumptuous to me".
Ozpetek then revealed how during the development of his films he always has many doubts and how he frequently changes the various things he had already imagined where: "the written thing dies on paper", while it is essential that life enters the set. A necessary freedom in cinema as also explained by the actress Anna Bonaiuto who, surprisingly, took part in the event praising Ozpetek's cinema: "This feeling of freedom to change is very human, this brings life to cinema". The actress, who starred in "Napoli velata", then explained why the public has always loved Ozpetek's cinema: "the public feels that he loves them. Ferzan thinks of the public, but does not lower the quality of what he is doing to please them. You feel when there is sincere love for the public and you do not want to deceive them. Ferzan has an adoration for the actors during filming. You feel loved on the set". Adoration that starts from the first auditions that Ozpetek carries out as simple chats through which the actors feel free to talk about themselves: "The love with the actors in me is very strong, I always let myself be guided by the sixth sense". And in addition to the history of the films and acting, Ozpetek also has a great love for the characters in the films who are never judged and who always live incredible and out of the ordinary situations.
“For me the greatest reward is when the viewer is moved by watching my film”, said the director enthusiastic about the clamor of the Caserta audience. Also during the press conference, preceding the event, the director spoke about many interesting things and underlined how a great passion for cinema is certainly necessary for those who intend to approach this world, in addition to the right encounters, a great desire to do and also a bit of luck. “Cinema is life so it teaches how to face life”.
Gustavo Gentile
Article published on November 26, 2018 - 10:16
