“The bond with Puglia is very strong. It is the place that inspires me.” This is how the Apulian actress Rosa Palasciano, originally from Pezze di Greco, ends her interview about the film “Taxi Monamour”, which she co-wrote and starred in. A significant recognition for the film, winning the Giornate degli Autori Audience Award at the Venice Film Festival. The actress and director De Caro presented Taxi Monamour at the Matera Film Festival a few days ago.
Let’s start with the prize won at the Venice Film Festival. How did you experience it?
“We were warmly welcomed, but the public award was a surprise. Infinite emotion. Ours is a film with a simple story,
he said very personally. It was difficult for me.”
Didn’t you expect that?
“I never expect anything, I do everything with my heart, without thinking about the future. I don’t think about awards (laughs ed.).
You have created a subtle, almost whispering film. Where did the need to stage such a “normal” story come from?
“From love and interest to people and relationships. I live life simply and spontaneously, I look around a lot. This is inevitably reflected in my creativity.”
Could it be said that “Taxi Monamour” tells a story that belongs to everyone?
“We tried to do that. And in this work we were helped by a production that supports us and understands us, which is important in this process. Thanks to Da Simone Isola and Michael Fantauzzi.”
This is your second film with Ciro De Caro and you wrote it together. Can you tell us a little bit about how the writing process went with it?
“It was an exciting process. Of course, it is not simple, we both have very specific ideas that we are interested in defending. We like to compare. Then sometimes I don’t deny that there is a clash, but it grows you. What helps us is having the same influences, the same cinematographic tastes.”
Speaking of which, does Taxi Monamour have a bit of French cinema influence?
“Absolutely. French cinema is my compass. I love the freedom of being uncertain. Follow the characters, the feelings, the overall stories. Observing all these simple things that happen on the street or in the supermarket, and then putting yourself in that situation
human contradictions that often make you smile.”
He worked closely with his co-star actress Yeva Sai in the film. There is a special chemistry between you. How did you get there?
“We were very lucky. We met at the casting stage and there was a silent, almost respectful intimacy. It was love at first sight with him, we became friends immediately. I feel lucky because I have found a person who is both my colleague and my lover, who has given us his experience and expertise very generously.”
But this closeness was certainly unexpected when I wrote the script…
“We wanted to find something like this, it was a dream. Then came the right person to explain the friendship with a bit of a love story.”
Can we define the film as a celebration of female friendship?
“Yes. And that’s something I’ve always thought about. It’s hard to make friends, especially in these stressful times. More so among women. We have less place in society and in the work context, which creates a lot of competition. We’re almost afraid of each other. On the contrary, women when they come together, get to know each other and form a team, they become an incredible force.”
Has being a woman ever made you uncomfortable on set?
“Our field is a special field where we work with images. I think it’s important to have inner balance, to be aware without fear. As an actress, as a woman, as a person. I have a lot to say and I’m trying to do it with great strength.”
Do you find the movie world a bit sexist?
“The outside is not more than the world. There is a lot of work to be done on the subject, but I think we are on the right track. My dream is equality without the need to fight.”
It is from Puglia. What does he have to do with this land?
“I ran away when I was eighteen, the state suffocated me. It was necessary to look around. But the bond is very strong, now I live in Puglia, close to the sea. It is the land that brings me inspiration and luck.”