Inspired by the Novel, "I Fell in Love Instantly," He Decided to Make It a Film

Bernardo Bertolucci, whose films like the shocking and intoxicating 'The Conformist' (1970) and 'Last Tango in Paris' (1972) are etched in film history, and whose epic 'The Last Emperor' (1987) won 10 Academy Awards, is set to make a full return to filmmaking with 'Me and You.' This marks the first film from the Italian master in a long creative hiatus since 'The Dreamers' in 2003.

After the release of 'The Dreamers,' Bertolucci suffered from a serious illness, even contemplating retirement. However, accepting his reality of living with a wheelchair reignited his passion for filmmaking. It was then that he encountered Niccolò Ammaniti's novel, which he described as "I fell in love with it the moment I read it," and he decided to adapt it into a film without hesitation. This film, which also marks his 50th year in directing, is his first film in his native Italian in 30 years.

The two lead actors were chosen through auditions. Jacopo Olmo Antinori plays Lorenzo, a 14-year-old boy who loves solitude, and Teo Falco, also active as a photographer, plays Olivia, Lorenzo's half-sister. Both are new actors.

An Unforgettable Week Spent in Isolation

Lorenzo, a 14-year-old who prefers to be alone, is considered a problem child by his nagging mother and school. Wishing to escape all worldly ties, he puts a secret plan into motion. He lies to his mother, telling her he's attending a school ski trip, intending to hole up in his apartment's basement for a week.

The space, equipped with food, bedding, and heating, was perfect for Lorenzo, filled with his favorite books, music, and the silence he craved. However, his blissful solitude is disrupted on the second day by the arrival of his beautiful and free-spirited half-sister, Olivia. Thus begins their tumultuous 'cohabitation' as siblings, devoid of true solitude.──.



Lorenzo, deepening in isolation and anguish, and Olivia, who behaves like a haughty queen yet inadvertently exposes her own cruel physical and emotional pain to her brother. Director Bertolucci intimately observes the thrilling chemical reactions as the two young souls connect in the basement, a space seemingly suspended between dream and reality. What will the siblings lose and gain during their unforgettable week in isolation? Experience the profound message of Bertolucci, who has made a complete comeback with this film depicting the regeneration and growth of youth.



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'Me and You'
Opening April 20th (Saturday) at Cine Switch Ginza and nationwide
Directed and Written by | Bernardo Bertolucci
Starring | Jacopo Olmo Antinori, Teo Falco
Distribution | Broadmedia Studio
2012 / Italy / 97 min
http://kodoku-tenshi.com/

© 2012 Fiction - Wildside