Occhi Blu (Blue Eyes) is the directorial debut of Michela Cescon. A genre movie shot in a nocturnal and evocative Rome that will have its world premiere tonight at Teatro Greco for the third day of 67th Taormina Film Festival. Occhi blu will hit Italian theaters on July 8 distributed by I Wonder Pictures.
The movie follows the deeds of a misteryous robber, played by an enigmatic Valeria Golino, an elusive rider who hits and run driving fast motorcycles. Police struggles and the chief officer asks for help to an old French friend. All the characters have secrets, they all want just one thing.
«Valeria’s character is always looking for an escape» Michela Cescon told us «and the interaction between characters rouses a chain reaction that leads them to liberation. I think that Occhi Blu speaks about the very concept of freedom».
Free and personal is the style of rookie director Cescon that is also an experienced and talented actress. Cescon has clear ideas about her references.
«Genre was my major reference. I’m a great lover of French Polar, especially Jean-Pierre Melville movies, and I love graphic novels as well. I wanted to merge these atmospheres with an essential storytelling»
Classic French cinema is not the only inspiration for Occhi blu.
«Valeria’s character is inspired by Ryan Gosling’s from Drive. The character builds the movie and its world and there’s no need to explain it. The story is on the back, genre creates the visionary. We can think whatever we want about her, why she behaviours like this, but at the end of the day what’s important is staring at her very close and indulge to genre».
Occhi blu finds again an actor that has a spot in history of cinema. Jean-Hugues Anglade was the male protagonist of two French cult movies such as Betty Blue and La Femme Nikita.
«When I started thinking about the cast I immediately thought of him. I went to Paris to meet him and when I was in front of Jean-Hugues I knew he was my French cop».
