Valeria Golino closes the 54th edition of the Giffoni Festival by presenting the Sky Original film-miniseries, “L’arte della gioia” (The art of Joy), based on the book by Goliarda Sapienza, considered by many to be a coming-of-age novel. A complex and demanding film, produced by Sky Studios and Viola Prestieri for HT Film. Accompanying the Neapolitan actress were three cast members: Tecla Insolia, Alma Noce and Giuseppe Spata, all warmly welcomed by the young audience in the Sala Truffaut.
Goliarda Sapienza was “an important person to me”, said Valeria Golino. Life is strange, “I met her on the set of the film ‘Story d’amore’ by Citto Maselli, Sapienza’s ex-husband, when I was 18 years old, and she served as my tutor to improve my diction”. By a twist of fate, the book found its way back to her and “with Viola Prestieri, we acquired the rights and began writing the screenplay. When we realized it wasn’t enough to make a film, the series was born”. Moreover, Golino is currently on the set of Mario Martone’s latest film, “Fuori”, where she plays Goliarda Sapienza.
Already a guest at Giffoni in 2011, as recalled by the festival’s founder and creator Claudio Gubitosi, Golino spoke about her “complex adolescence between a long illness and my parents’ divorce. Then I immediately started working and never lived it as one should”. The young audience in the Sala Truffaut showered her and the cast members with affection and questions.
“Does the film follow the book faithfully?”. This was one of the first questions the young people asked the director. “Partly yes and partly no – explained Golino – To best convey it on screen, we clearly made some additions. For example, we invented the character of Giuseppe Spata, Rocco, because we needed him to make the film work better”.
The story is about Modesta, who grows up in the Sicilian countryside with her mother, who detests her rebellious nature and favours her disabled sister. When her long-absent father reappears, it is to abuse her and exploit her immense need for affection. Modesta takes revenge, setting ablaze the world she grew up in. At a convent for daughters of the Sicilian aristocracy where she is taken in, she becomes the favourite of Mother Superior Eleonora, whom she falls in love with due to her deep-seated need for attention. One of the questions from the audience touched on this hunger for affection: “I think we all need to see ourselves reflected in others to experience joy – said the director – And I believe this need is heightened during adolescence”.
But the youth’s curiosity extended to aspects like the use of the Sicilian dialect. “I have Sicilian origins – responded Tecla Insolia – and at home, we spoke Italian but argued in Sicilian. Before and during filming, we had the help of Filippo Luna. With him, we tried to invent a dialect that wasn’t tied to specific areas of Sicily. Before each take, we would repeat our lines”.
“What is the director’s role in a film’s success?”, asked one girl. “The director’s responsibility in their relationship with the actors is crucial – Golino explained – because if an actor feels understood, they can give much more. We actors – added the director – are co-authors of the film and creating a good relationship with those directing us only benefits the film”.
Renato posed a more complex question: “You can tell it’s a work written in the Seventies, with some things revolutionary for that time. But I wonder, does it make sense to show it to us today?”. Golino complimented him, took a moment and then replied “I’m asking myself that now as I engage with you. The protagonist’s character is complex but real and represents the complexity of human beings, both past and present. For this reason, I believe it makes sense to watch it today”.
