Excellence of Sicilian popular songwriting and feminist ante litteram, the Licatese storyteller Rosa Balistreri was a rebellious and non-conformist womanalways on the side of the last. A unique character in Italian cultural history, he never hid the fact that his art drew inspiration from a troubled existence, in an equally complex historical period. A life today told in “The love I have”, the second work by the Palermo director Paolo Licata (“Picciridda – With feet in the sand”), premiered at the last Torino Film Festival (“Zibaldone” section).
Written by Licata with Maurizio Quagliana, Heidrun Schleef and Antonio Guadalupi, freely inspired by the biography “L’amuri c’à v’haju” by his nephew Luca Torregrossa (in the film the Palermo native Emanuele Del Castillo), the story starts from 1990, his last year of life.
While Rosa (Lucia Sardo as an older woman, Donatella Finocchiaro as an adult) tries in every way to recover the broken relationship with her daughter Angela (Tania Bambaci), memories of the past torment her, bringing her back to the most salient moments of her life and work . From a difficult childhood in Sicily in the 30s and 40s to great success, passing through complex moments in his private life.
«During the editing of “Picciridda” I was choosing the songs to include in the film and I was already thinking of someone by Rosa Balistreri – says Licata – By researching myself, I discovered a woman who seems to have lived many lives and this led me to develop the project of films.”
Catania actress Lucia Sardo plays Rosa as an elderly womanchosen by Licata after a phone call in which he demonstrated his singing expertise by singing “Mi votu e mi rivotu”. “Singing was her strength – states the actress – and her voice can never be surpassed, because we should experience what she experienced. His is a cry of desperation, but also of hope. She was a true warrior and every day she fought to change or achieve something.” A woman who would give so much to our contemporaneity. «She was a forerunner of her times – reiterated the director – engaged in social struggles and for women’s rights. On November 25th she would have been present despite her age.” Catania actress Donatella Finocchiaro, who plays her as an adult, is also convinced of this. «With his song he defended the oppressed, making it a political song through his experience and at the same time obtaining social redemption. My scenes tell precisely about this golden period.”
The knowledge of the character to play for is touching the Barcelona-born Tania Bambaci, who gives the face to Angela Torregrossa, Rosa’s daughterwho passed away last October. «When he told me about Rosa he did it with the tenderness of someone who carries within him something important that was missing in childhood – he says -. With Paolo we characterized the role by setting the voice and posture according to age, but always with the common thread around the possibility of mending the relationship with the mother.” Maria, Rosa’s sister, is played by Marta Castiglia from Palermoprotagonist of “Picciridda”, and, in a special participation, by Katia Greco from Messina. «To play Maria I used brown contact lenses to have eyes similar to those of Marta – says Greco – It was exciting to play scenes concentrated in a few lines but focused on Maria’s story, which is crucial in Rosa’s life».
Cameo by the Enna singer-songwriter Mario Incudine in the role of Don Cicciostoryteller who struck Rosa on the path of music. «From the meeting with him comes the seed that will make her become the great “singer” example of revolution and social commitment that we know. When Don Ciccio tells her that there has never been a female storyteller, she replies that she wants to be the first. It is no coincidence that his first LP is entitled “La cantastorie di Licata”».
The film’s original music is by Carmen Consoliwho has carried on her memory for years, considering her an artistic muse. The “singer” of San Giovanni La Punta (Catania) plays the character of Alice and acts as vocal coach to Sardo and Finocchiaro for the singing scenes. Also in the cast are Palermo actors Vincenzo Ferrera, Giovanni Carta and Martina Zaimi, Netina Anita Pomario and Loredana Marino. Produced by Dea Film and Moonlight, “L’amore che ho” will soon be in theaters.