I’ve seen every movie he’s ever made, many of them more times than I care to admit, his birthday, October 20 is the official “I Love Italian Movies” day of celebration, and I finally got to meet him yesterday in Venice. Luigi Lo Cascio is just a nice as he is talented.
If anyone had asked me before yesterday, “What famous person would you most like to meet?” I wouldn’t have hesitated, I would have said, “Luigi Lo Cascio!” I credit him with making me aware of the new wave of Italian actors and directors that have awaken the Italian film industry; when I went to see him with Sandra Ceccarelli in La Vita Che Vorrei in a little movie theater in Firenze, I was immediately hooked on contemporary Italian movies.
I’ve loved Luigi more than any other actor for so many reasons. For one, his range is incredible, having played every possible type of character in dozens of movies since the year 2000. And probably the biggest reason: his eyes. No other actor’s are so emotionally expressive, warm and loving in some films and angry and cruel in others
But the best thing of all; I got to find out that he’s just a regular guy, with a family he loves and a job that he’s not only good at, but enjoys. He took the time to talk with me in the middle of a very busy day at the Venice Film Festival because he’s a very kind man and knew it was important to me.
Thank you Luigi! Thank you for not laughing at my bad Italian. Thank you for taking time out of your day. In Boca al Lupo for your new film, I Nostri Ragazzi, and remember your biggest fan lives in Hudson, Ohio, USA.
I Love Italian Everything 