Liliana Cavani turns 90: “Cinema must take risks”
Not a celebration but “a student assembly”: this is the meeting organized by Vittorio Sgarbi, in the Cruise Hall of the Ministry of Culture, to celebrate the director of films that have made history, from ‘Francis’ to ‘The Night Porter’
“Cinema needs difficulty, a certain amount of risk. At the same time, those who make films must believe that certain things can be done and must not be afraid to do them. Cinema is passion. That is why I am grateful for this kind, generous, benevolent event. I don’t even know if I have deserved it,” says Liliana Cavani, a “90-year-old girl” whose birthday was celebrated a little early (she will turn them on January 12) in the magnificent Cruise Hall of the Ministry of Culture, amidst ancient books that tell the history of Italy and the world, and therefore a better place could not be.
Present were directors with whom paths have crossed such as Marco Bellocchio, Pupi Avati, Paolo Virzì but also writer Barbara Alberti who collaborated on the subject of The Night Porter (with Amedeo Pagani, Italo Moscati and Cavani herself). And then, each with his own testimony: Fausto Bertinotti, Luciano Violante, Walter Veltroni, Gianni Letta.
To end with live news: the announcement made by the director of the Quirino theater, Neapolitan actor, producer and director Geppy Gleijeses of Liliana Cavani’s return to stage direction with a co-production with Florence’s La Pergola theater for Sei personaggi in cerca di autore.
Again, among those present: Paolo Sorrentino, Michele Placido, Giovanna Ralli (quoted and called upon to tell a piece of the story), Susanna Nicchiarelli, Cristina Comencini, producer Pietro Valsecchi, Paola Malanga director of the Rome Film Festival, and director of the Centro sperimentale di cinematografia Marta Donzelli.
Vittorio Sgarbi phoned in the night of the day before to the guests, at the last moment therefore, and precisely what common logic would like to stigmatize as a “lack of organization” is instead the key to the success of this meeting, which takes place informally, without even a microphone and without anyone having been able to prepare a speech, so much so that at the end the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, will thank Sgarbi for having recreated “an atmosphere of a student assembly.”
