(July 14, 217) “The Asteroids” by Germano Maccioni is the Italian film in competition at the 70th Locarno Festival (from August 2 to 12) Produced by Articolture and Ocean Productions with RAI Cinema and distributed by Istituto Luce-Cinecittà, the film marks the feature film’s debut of Maccioni (born in 1978) film director, he directed short films and documentaries, including the latest “Fedele alla Linea” dedicated to the life of Giovanni Lindo Ferretti. Written by the director together with Giovanni Galavotti, “The Asteroids” brings for the first time a brilliant cast of young non-professional actors: Riccardo Frascari (as Pietro), Nicolas Balotti (Ivan) and Alessandro Tarabelloni (Cosmic), with the talents of Pippo Delbono and Chiara Caselli. A film with a great technical crew and an evocative soundtrack that combines the original composition of Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari and songs of Stato Sociale. Designed, produced and made entirely in Bologna and its province – a territory that becomes the true protagonist of the film – the film is part of the new genre coming-of-age, a novel of education geared up on a lively plot, the camera investigates an intimate and social plan. The protagonists of this adventurous fairy dropped into contemporaneity are three boys who are not even twenty, linked by deep friendship, in a context in which the economic crisis hit hard, and did not spared their families, making precarious affections and ties. “I have always thought to the Asteroids as a small ‘training fable’ set in the province, on the flat horizon of the plain, fertile with long fields, crazy faces and stories, bales and apparent architectural eyesores that sometimes surprise the gaze and show us an unexpected grace – explains Maccioni – In this landscape as Emilian as metaphysical, I also sought a representation of a human condition. I am honored (and curious) that the world premiere of the film takes place in the official competition of an international festival, so open to the world as Locarno. ” (Red)
