Marina
by Stijn Coninx
Synopsis | Cast & Crew | Technical Information
Italy, 1948. Young Rocco is growing up in Calabria, until one day his father Salvatore decides to leave to Belgium, where he strives to earn a lot of money by working in coal mines. Very soon he sends for his family. Rocco becomes a migrant overnight, with all the consequences this entails. Rocco wants to be like other youngsters, become someone and have a purpose in life. Against his father’s wish and better judgment he seeks an escape through music and love. The amazing story is based on the childhood memories of the Italian-Belgian singer, Rocco Granata.
Official film website: http://www.marinafilm.be/
Awards & Festivals
Prix de la Jeunesse at Cabourg Film Festival!
Bernhard Wicki Award (main Prize) at the IFF Emden-Norderney!
Best Film and Critic Awards at the Festival del Cinema Indipendente di Foggia.
Will represent Belgium at the 17th European Union Film Festival in Chicago (7th March to 3rd April). Eligible for the Best Film Audience Award!
Seminci Joven Award at Valladolid IFF!
US Premiere in Palm Springs IFF
Marina won 7 Ensors (Belgium Film Price) at the Ostend Film Festival, amongst which Best Film, Best Director, Best Script…!
Public Award at Castellinaria Film Festival!
Cast
Matteo Simoni: Rocco Granata
Evelien Bosmans: La Ragazza
Luigi Lo Cascio: Salvatore Granata
Donatella Finocchiaro: Ida Granata
Chris Van Den Durpel: Tony Bruno
Warre Borgmans: Mr. Somers
Cristian Campagna: Young Rocco
Director Bio
Stijn Coninx has directed films, TV series & theatre plays. His most important films are a.o. HECTOR, KOKO FLANEL, DAENS, which were all-time box office hits in Belgium. DAENS was nominated for the “Best Foreign Language” Oscar Academy Awards. Stijn Coninx won more than 50 prizes all over the world with his films.
Director Statement
“Rocco’s story inspired me to make a movie about a child who suddenly becomes an immigrant. MARINA is about immigration, integration, family conflicts, love… At the heart of the story are a father and his son. The father physically moves to Belgium, but in his mind he stays in Italy. His son leaves Italy physically behind, yet feels Italian and Belgian at the same time.”
Cast Bio
MATTEO SIMONI studied at the theater department of the Herman Teirlinck Institute. In 2008 he founded the theater FC Bergman. On television Matteo starred in the series 16 +. After a few supporting roles in series such as Sarah, Spoed, Happy Singles and Vermist, he performed in one of the leading roles in Louis Louise. Later he starred in the movie Zot van A. by Jan Verheyen and in the TV series Rang 1. In 2012 he starred in the feature film Weekend aan zee.
LUIGI LO CASCIO became famous for his role as Peppino Impastato in I CENTO PASSI. He won a prestigious “David di Donatello” for Best Actor. For his next film, LUCE DEI MIEI OCCHI, he was also awarded. His international breakthrough came with the film LA MEGLIO GIOVENTÙ.
DONATELLA FINOCCHIARO played a leading role in the feature film ANGELA by Roberta Torre. The film had an international success, and Donatella fully dedicated her career as an actress on stage and in films. She worked with the directors Luca Ronconi, Gigi Dall'Aglion Ninni Bruschetta and Andrea De Rosa.
Crew
Director: Stijn Coninx
Original screenplay: Rik D’hiet & Stijn Coninx
Photography: Lou Berghmans
Editing: Philippe Ravoet
Sound: Henri Morelle
Sound design: Benoit De Clerck
Music: Michelino Bisceglia
Art director: Hubert Pouille
Costumes: Catherine Marchand
Make-up: Garance Van Rossum
Co-producers: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, Delphine Tomson (Les Films du Fleuve), Cristiano Bortone (Orisa Produzioni)
Delegate producer: Peter Bouckaert (Eyeworks)
Producer Company: Eyeworks
Supported by: The Flemish Audiovisual Fund, Le Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles et de VOO, les Régions Wallonne et de Bruxelles-Capitale, the province of Limburg, the city of Genk, the belgian tax shelter for film financing, the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Apulia Film Commission
Original Title: Marina / Arri Alexa / 1:2.35 / Colour / 118 min / Dolby Digital / Dutch and Italian with English subtitles/ DCP and HDCAM available / Belgium/Italy 2013
Photo Gallery
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