He holds firm to a mountain teaching that has become a life posture: “To avoid the shock of the abyss on the peaks, do not look up or down, but only at the nail in front of you.” Maura Delpero, 48 years old, born in Bolzano, experiences between Argentina and Europe, with her second film Vermiglio, Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, she finds herself catapulted into the world of Hollywood, designated to represent Italy in the selection for the international Oscar. She prefers a pragmatic serenity to amazement: «I am simply happy for the film, I felt it had possibilities, from the feedback I received I felt support and also that the story of this mountain bride in a certain sense could be linked to the Italian identity, a distant/near on contemporaneity, without any nostalgia but a looking back to move forward and perhaps this is why Vermiglio was chosen today».
Delpero says that as a woman, as a person outside the cinema environment, This recognition today is the result of “hard work, with my head down, convinced that I was making a film with my own language. In these years I have struggled a lot, I have had tremendous limitations, I have experienced prejudice and therefore I am aware of being an outsider, but it is as if I have a center of gravity and perhaps it is my strength, this is a tremendous job you go from the stars to the stables and vice versa, but I am supported by passion”.
Paul Sorrentinowho with Parthenope was considered the favorite, a few hours after Vermiglio’s nomination released a generous and unusual statement: «I am very happy that Italy has chosen Vermiglio and I say this with absolute sincerity. Vermiglio is an excellent film and I wish Maura Delpero a long and beautiful journey in this memorable adventure that is the race for the Oscar». Delpero thanks and is also keen to say: «This part of the job is a bit ugly, the idea of jostling, of beating is not mine. Sorrentino is out of the question, he will return to the Oscars and today it went like this, we navel-gaze and then there are wonderful films out there, those worry me». In the meantime Vermiglio is playing its cards, «it is the most requested Italian film at festivals – say the young members of Cinedora happily – from London to New York».
Paul Del Brocco of Rai Cinema will be in a meeting tomorrow with the director and the producers for a strategy towards Hollywood, made of screenings, meetings, pressure. Delpero jokingly puts his hands up: «I will not transform myself into a glamorous director who does lobbying». The road map in tuxedo and aperitifs will not be easy but it will have to be done: the American distributors of Sideshow and Janus Films will decide on the theatrical release and the strategy. The anxiety that the director did not have will perhaps increase along the way: first goal on December 17th for the entry into the shortlist, and then who knows on January 17th the nominations until the night of the Oscars on March 2nd 2025. Meanwhile in Italy, with Lucky Red, the small discreet Vermiglio, delicate «like a snowball», conquers the public, surprisingly enchants the young people, and earns 100 theaters.