Last night I watched director Claudio Cupellini’s “Una Vita Tranquilla” (A Quiet Life) with Italian superstar Toni Servillo (we saw him in Il Divo and Gomorrah).
Toni plays Rosario, an Italian who lives in Germany, is married with a young son and runs a successful Italian restaurant. When a visitor from Italy comes, he is at once nervous and over-joyed. Rosario hasn’t been completely forthright with his wife about his past; his former employer was the Camorra and he didn’t exactly cook for them.
When he crossed the wrong people he disappeared, leaving behind a young son and a wife in Italy. This Italian visitor is not the cousin that he tells his wife he is; he is his son, Diego, who has some secrets of his own.
La Vita Tranquilla is a story that raises the questions; who deserves a quiet life? Who merits tranquillity? Is redemption possible, particularly if you have run away and never asked for forgiveness? For 15 years Rosario lived in relative peace and happiness, but was he always looking over his shoulder and could he ever really rest?
Toni Servillo is really wonderful, and Marco D’amore, who plays Diego, is astounding, considering this is his only movie credit.
The movie is nominated for best film for the David di Donatello awards, Claudio Cupellini for best director, and Francesco Di Leva, who plays Diego’s friend, for best supporting actor. (Where’s the best actor nomination for Toni Servillo?)
2010
Director: Claudio Cupellini
Writers: Filippo Gravino (story), Filippo Gravino (screenplay)
Stars: Toni Servillo, Marco D’Amore and Francesco Di Leva
I Love Italian Everything 