La Reliquia
When Mimì discovers that Anna, the young girl from whom she is expecting a child, in exchange for a job has accepted that the unborn child was "enchanted" by the spirit of Pasquale Capuano, she decides to turn to Maciaro, a farmer sorcerer and the only person able to free her and the baby. But the important personality of the village, to keep the social balance and traditions of Roccalunga intact, cannot allow a child to be born free from Pasquale's influence.
Disturbing Rosemary's Baby in southern sauce, "La reliquia" (seen online at the Fantafestival in Rome) is a successful insight into the practices and rituals of southern Italy. The theme is the atmosphere is very interesting and original, but the narrative suffers from the short duration. The cast of actors is exceptional, mostly comedians, but perfectly in part in histrionic (Paolantoni) or slimy (Rizzo) roles. The beautiful and evocative photography creates a dark atmosphere. Effective direction. Note of merit: the use of the lunar music by Egisto Macchi, author of the beautiful soundtrack of the film "The assassination of Trotsky" by Joseph Losey.
Francesco Paolantoni
Giacomo Rizzo
Paolo Martini and Giobbe Covatta
Giuseppe Calandriello and Giacomo Rizzi
Cast:
Marcello Prayer (Domenico "Mimì" Riccio)
Aura Ghezzi (Anna)
Giobbe Covatta (Maciaro)
Francesco Paolantoni (Sindaco Luigi Pastore)
Giacomo Rizzo (Giuseppe Esposito)
Valerio Lombardi (Dottorino)
Antonio Cioffi (Father Ciccio)
Gerardo Schiavone (Gegè Santoro)
Alfonso Quagliariello (Salvatore Russo)
Lucia D'Adamo (Pregnant Girl)
Luigi Ragucci (Cammorist 1)
Alessandro Fubiani (Cammorist 2)
Nina Marraffa (Pasquale's Son)
Story and Screenplay:
Giuseppe Calandriello
Paolo Martini
Music:
Egisto Macchi
Editor:
Beniamino Montanari
Costume Designer:
Sandra Cianci
Production Designer:
Sandra Cianci
Cinematographer:
David Becheri
Sound and Sound Designer:
Andrea Pasqualetti
Producers:
Paolo Martini
Andrea Mugnaini
Paola Raffo
Makeup artist:
Beatrice Aru
Still Photographer:
Michele Chiroli