Human Capital a Film by Paolo Virzì
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presents Human Capital A film by Paolo Virzì “Engrossing! A chic thriller [with] a top-flight cast.” –The Hollywood Reporter Italy / 2014 / Drama / Italian with English Subtitles 110 min / 2.35:1 / 5.1 Surround Sound Official Film Webpage Agency Press Contact Julia Pacetti, JMP Verdant | 1 Grand Army Plaza | Brooklyn, NY 11238 tel: (917) 584-7846 | [email protected] Film Movement Press Contact: Lisa Trifone | 109 W. 27th Street, Suite 9B | New York, NY 10001 tel: (212) 941-7744 x 209 | fax: (212) 941-7812 | [email protected] Film Movement Theatrical Contact: Rebeca Conget | 109 W. 27th Street, Suite 9B | New York, NY 10001 tel: (212) 941-7744 x 213 | fax: (212) 941-7812 | [email protected] 1 FULL SYNOPSIS Human Capital begins at the end, as a cyclist is run off the road by a careening SUV the night before Christmas Eve. As details emerge of the events leading up to the accident, the lives of the well-to-do Bernaschi family, privileged and detached, will intertwine with the Rovellis, struggling to keep their comfortable middle-class life, in ways neither could have expected. Dino Rovelli (Fabrizio Bentivoglio), in dire financial straits, anticipates the birth of twins with his second wife (Valeria Golino). Meanwhile, Dino’s teenage daughter’s relationship with hedge-fund manager Giovanni Bernaschi’s playboy son complicates an already tricky social dance of status, money and ambition. Paolo Virzì’s taut character study deconstructs the typical linear narrative, observing transformative events from each character’s perspective. The result is a nuanced account of desire, greed and the value of human life in an age of rampant capitalism and financial manipulation. SHORT SYNOPSIS Human Capital begins at the end, as a cyclist is run off the road by a careening SUV the night before Christmas Eve. As details emerge of the events leading up to the accident, the lives of the well-to-do Bernaschi family, privileged and detached, will intertwine with the Rovellis, struggling to keep their comfortable middle-class life, in ways neither could have expected. Dino Rovelli (Fabrizio Bentivoglio), in dire financial straits, anticipates the birth of twins with his second wife (Valeria Golino). Meanwhile, Dino’s teenage daughter’s relationship with hedge-fund manager Giovanni Bernaschi’s playboy son complicates an already tricky social dance of status, money and ambition. LOGLINE Human Capital begins at the end, a nuanced account of desire, greed and the value of human life in an age of rampant capitalism and financial manipulation. ASSETS Official US trailer coming soon Downloadable hi-res images: http://www.filmmovement.com/filmcatalog/index.asp?MerchandiseID=372 2 FESTIVALS AND AWARDS AWARDS: Tribeca Film Festival - Best Actress (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) Nastri d’Argento Awards – Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Actor (shared, Fabrizio Gifuni, Fabrizio Bentivoglio), Best Sound David di Donatello Awards-Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), Best Supporting Actress (Valeria Golino), Best Supporting Actor (Fabrizio Gifuni), Best Editing, Best Sound Italian Golden Globe-Best Film OFFICIAL SELECTION: Tribeca Film Festival Seattle In’t Film Festival Karlovy Vary Film Festival Sydney Film Festival New Zealand Int’lFilm Festival Melbourne Int’l Film Festival The Norwegian Int’l Film Festival Hagesund Odessa Int’l Film Festival Milwaukee Int’l Film Festival Traverse City Film Festival Chicago Int’l Film Festival Vancouver Int’l Film Festival Aspen Film Festival Scottsdale Int’l Film Festival Hawaii Int’l Film Festival Denver Film Festival Vermont Int’l Film Festival Ft. Lauderdale Int’l Film Festival Rehoboth Beach Film Festival 3 A NOTE FROM DIRECTOR PAOLO VIRZÌ This project began first and foremost as a real “love affair” with the wonderful novel by Stephen Amidon, Human Capital, set in an affluent Connecticut suburb in the last decade. Those characters, and that story, seemed emblematic of our times, even in Italy: a wealth that doesn’t come from work, but from the most ruthless of financial speculation; the dashed hopes of climbing the social ladder; the anxiety that money causes; a generation of young people forced to pay a higher price for happiness, because of the fitful ambitions of their parents, or their own frustrations. The story of Drew Hagel—the restless real estate agent who takes advantage of his daughter’s presumed relationship with the son of a wealthy broker to try and join the board of an aggressive investment fund—immediately struck a chord. It seemed written just for us, to express a state of affairs that concerns us all. So we made it an Italian story, the story of Dino Ossola, a real estate agent, who’s enrolled his daughter Serena in a prestigious prep school he can barely afford. We immersed that mosaic of stories and characters in today’s North Italian Provence, a region straddling the border of wealth and desperation. We decided to structure the plot like a real thriller, with a dead body on our hands from the very first scene: a cyclist hit on an icy winter’s night, on the eve of the Christmas holidays. Tracing the steps of the various characters, the entire film retells the story of what happened that night, piece by piece, showing how that accident could change each of their lives. Mainly, however, it tells the story of how money—the angst of multiplying it, the anxiety of losing it—determines the relationships, the fates, and the worth of the people it touches. - Paolo Virzì 4 CREW PAOLO VIRZÌ, Director and Co-Screenwriter Considered one of the major heirs of the “Italian-style” comedy film tradition, screenwriter and director Paolo Virzì was born in Livorno, Italy. Initially a screenwriter for film and television, Virzì made his directorial debut in 1994 with Living It Up, which won the Golden Ciak award at the Venice Film Festival. Three years later, Virzi received critical acclaim and the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival for his semi-autobiographical film Hardboiled Egg, a comedy set in Paolo’s hometown. Paolo is also known for The First Beautiful Thing, and Ferie d’agosto (August Vacation), which won a David di Donatello Award for Best Film. FILMOGRAPHY 2014 Human Capital 2012 Every Blessed Day 2010 The First Beautiful Thing 2009 L'uomo che aveva picchiato la testa (Video documentary) 2008 Tutta la vita davanti 2006 N (Io e Napoleone) 2004 Giovani talenti italiani (Video) (segment "Professionismo") 2003 Caterina in the Big City 2002 My Name Is Tanino 2001 La strana coppia. Incontro con Age e Scarpelli (Documentary) 1999 Provino d'ammissione (Short) 1999 Baci e abbracci 1997 Hardboiled Egg 1996 Intolerance (segment "Roma Ovest 143") 1996 Ferie d'agosto 1994 La bella vita 5 CAST FILMOGRAPHIES FABRIZIO BENTIVOGLIO (Dino) Originally on the youth soccer team of Inter Milan, Fabrizio left his sporting career after a knee injury and attended the renowned Milan acting school Piccolo Teatro. Now also a director, screenwriter and theater actor, Fabrizio has worked with some of Italy’s greatest film directors: Academy Award® winner Gabriele Salvatores (Marrakech Express), Silvio Soldini (L’aria Serena Dell’Ovest), Gabriele Muccino (Remember Me, My Love), and many more. In 2007, Fabrizio made his directorial feature debut with Don’t Waste Your Time, Johnny!, a coming-of-age story of an aspiring musician that needs to prove that he’s an employed guitarist and the sole supporter of his widowed mother in order to avoid military service. SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY 2014 Human Capital 2012 Tutto tutto niente niente 2007 The Right Distance 2003 Remember Me, My Love 2002 Jailbreak 2000 Teeth 1999 The Missing 1999 The Nanny 1998 Eternity and a Day VALERIA GOLINO (Roberta) Starting her career as a fashion model, Valeria was discovered in Athens by the Academy Award® nominated director Lina Wertmuller, who cast her in a minor role in A Joke of Destiny. A self-taught actress, Valeria would star in her first leading role two years later in Little Flames, for which she earned a Globo d’oro for Best Breakthrough actress. A year later, Valeria would win the coveted Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for her performance as Bruna in A Tale of Love. In the United States, Valeria has worked on twenty films and is best known for her roles in Rain Man, Big Top Pee-Wee, and the Hot Shots! film series. In 2013, Valeria made her directorial debut with Honey, which she received a special mention by the Ecumenical Jury at the Cannes Film Festival and another Globo d’oro for Best First Feature. SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY 2014 Human Capital 2013 Like the Wind 2011 Kryptonite! 2011 A Butterfly Kiss 2009 The Cézanne Affair 6 2009 The French Kissers 2009 Giulia Doesn't Date at Night 2008 Quiet Chaos 2007 The Girl by the Lake 2006 Our Country 2005 Mario's War 2004 Alive 2002 Frida 2002 Respiro 2000 Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her 1998 Shooting the Moon 1996 Escape from L.A. 1995 Four Rooms 1995 Leaving Las Vegas 1994 Immortal Beloved 1994 Clean Slate 1991 Year of the Gun 1991 Hot Shots! 1991 The Indian Runner 1990 The King's Whore 1988 Rain Man 1988 Big Top Pee-wee VALERIA BRUNI TEDESCHI (Carla) Fluent in both Italian and French, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi has starred in several films in Italy. She started her Italian acting career in Pupi Avati’s A Story of Boys and Girls. Valeria has won two David di Donatello for best actress – once in 1995 for The Second Time and another in 1998 for Notes of Love. In French cinema, she is known for her performance in Normal People are Nothing Special, and 5x2.