Ariaferma is the third feature by Leonardo Di Costanzo. The movie is Out of Competition at Venezia 78. Ariaferma brings us in the closing prison of Mortara. Because of some burocratic issues the transfert of the last 12 convicted and few prison guards is postponed. Theu become a new, fragile community in which the old rules have no sense anymore. Toni Servillo (it’s his third movie at Venezia 78 together with È stata la mano di Dio and Qui rido io, both in competition) and Silvio Orlando (three movies for him as well, Ezio Bosso. Le cose che restano and closing movie Il bambino nascosto) works together for the first time. Main cast also includes Fabrizio Ferracane, Salvatore Striano and many newcomers. This is not the first time that Di Costanzo tells a story about “prisoners”: his first feature (that followed a rich documentarist career), L’intervallo (2012, Ciak d’oro, Globo d’oro and David di Donatello for best first feature) was the story of a young girl shut in a derelict building because she dared to challenge camorra. There’s a boy appointed for surveillance spending the wait with her. After the collective movie I ponti di Sarajevo (2014) there was L’intrusa (2017), the story of a fugitive boss who finds shelter in a community that takes away children from camorra. Behind Ariaferma (shot in Sardinia and produced by Tempesta / Carlo Cresto-Dina with Rai Cinema, in co-production with Amka Film Productions and RSI Radiotelevisione Svizzera / SRG SSR) there’s a deep work of research made in various penitentiary. «We found great will to share stories» says Di Costanzo, «we met directors, prison agents and convicted together. We have seen strange friendly situations, they almost raced sharing their stories. They laughed together sometimes. Then, when the meetings ended, they all shift to their roles». Ariaferma is a movie about «the absurdity of prison», says Di Costanzo. Artistic Director Alberto Barbera considers Ariaferma «his most convincing film».
Ariaferma, Toni Servillo and Silvio Orlando for Di Costanzo
