The author: «My book finally at the cinema. The allegations of harassment? No anger ”
“Censored” in Italy, but not in China where in general the links of control are much tighter. It is the paradoxical fate of One hundred days of happiness, the novel by Fausto Brizzi on euthanasia: the author has never managed to produce it in Italy, but on the other hand there will be the film version made in China. “Since the book came out, now 8 years ago, I’ve tried to adapt it for the cinema, but every time I propose it the answer is always the same: yes nice, but first let’s dedicate ourselves to this other project”. The novel tells the story of a man who has terminal cancer and «decides he still has 100 days to live because he does not want his children to see him as ill. Those 100 days will be the best of his life, they will be a path of reconciliation with his wife and life training for his children. Today we already have problems making films with incorrect lines, let alone dealing with euthanasia, a controversial topic that always finds little space in Italy. A form of worrying self-censorship ». Which brings with it another paradox: «Two years ago I shot If you love me, the sequel to One hundred days of happiness: I think it is a unique world, there is the sequel but not the normal. In short, if they ever let me do it, I should shoot the prequel to a sequel … ».
The novel was released in 35 countries (including China) and the adaptation project was presented to Joy Vision Media (a Chinese production and distribution company) by Bridging the Dragon, an association of Sino-European producers that in recent years has become the reference point for film projects that link the two markets . «Chinese cinema moves on monstrous numbers, there are comedies that gross $ 800 million, much more than the American box office. For the main role we are talking about a brilliant actor who is very well known, who is equivalent to Checco Zalone: he fell in love with the possibility of playing a dramatic role and thanks to him the acquisition was unlocked ».
If the Chinese market has unrepeatable numbers, the pandemic has instead given a perhaps definitive blow to cinemas in Italy: how do you see the future? “I think medium-sized films will struggle: from the cinema they will move to platforms, while large releases and small films will remain in the cinemas, surprises, films that do not have high budgets to amortize and can afford to come out in 80 copies and focus on word of mouth. . I don’t see platform movies as one loss, it just makes you smile that the perceived success of films distributed in streaming is always enormous, they have all gone well … I see platforms as a technological evolution: I am working on projects for them and they are not minor products. Just see what Marvel is doing on Disney +: Mandalorian it’s cinema, it’s a fantastic series that has nothing to envy to the Star Wars films ».».
Four years ago Brizzi was accused of alleged sexual harassment, a legal matter closed with the filing. Today he has rebuilt his life (in 2020 he married the former hammerist Silvia Salis), what is left of that story? «I don’t feel anger, I have nothing to complain about myself. I hope it is a story that has served everyone, I hope that the media are more careful to give news or alleged news. I have been looked after by many friends, I have lost some, I have discovered new ones. What I have left of that period is a wonderful wife and a different agenda. “
July 25, 2021 (change July 25, 2021 | 21:18)
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