Displaying items by tag: Sarah Felberbaum

BENTORNATO PRESIDENTE/ WELCOME BACK, MR PRESIDENT

Italy, 2019, 96 minutes, Colour.

Claudio Bisio, Sarah Felberbaum, Pietro Sirmonte, Roberta Volponi.

Directed by Giancarlo Fontana, Giuseppe Stasi.

A political satiric film for an Italian audience, contemplating government since World War II, political parties, the Italian public, takeovers, the particular characters ranging from edifying Christian Democrats to Berlusconi.

For Italians, the premise might not be too far-fetched. By accident, a man is elected president, rules for some months, makes a progressive speech and retires back to the country. He marries, has a daughter. The wife, after all this time, is getting restless, wanting to go back to the political world.

In the meantime, there is a display of modern politics, a range of parties, a president retiring, campaigns, compromises, the old President turning up to confront his wife and when her back but being dragooned into taking office again with a range of consequences, a critique of Italian politics, the public, political chicanery and rivalries.

Audiences outside Italy might think that it is highly exaggerated – but the Italian audience might say that it is exaggerated – but not all that highly!

1. For Italian audiences? For those who know Italian politics? Worldwide audiences and the political themes?
2. The setting, Rome, the city, seats of government, poorer areas? The countryside, the mountains, trout fishing? Homes and country towns? The musical score?
3. The initial situation, per Peppino, his name of Garibaldi, mistakenly becoming president, a few months, his positive speech, his resignation, retirement to the countryside, all his friends in the town, marrying Janice, the birth of Guevara, her name, Che? The happy life, contented?
4. Eight years later, the elections, Janis and her role, the approach, unhappy with her marriage, isolated, Peppino and his way of life, love for her daughter, her decision to leave, go back to politics? Transferring to Rome, her change of address, manner, formalities, rules and regulations, assisting the president?
5. Peppino, upset, not understanding, his friends, the need for therapy, three months and chopping down trees, therapy of the axe? His decision to go to Rome, win back Janis, going to government, being recognised, entree, rough, the need for a time, Janis and her reactions? His B&B, his daughter coming to stay with him, poverty?
6. The political backgrounds, the campaigns, the scenes of people voting, the various advertisements, the right-wing candidate, the popular candidate, other nominees, their meetings, squabbles, political stances, the former president, presiding, the factions? The compromise?
7. The personalities of the various nominees, the racist right-winger, the popular man who did not go to high school? His media outlets, staff?
8. The decision about Peppino, the proposition, his refusing, his motivation for accepting, his daughter and her support?
9. Ivan, suspicions, working with Janis? His skills? Peppino giving him the huge workload, his achieving it, thrown into the rubbish? The challenge to Ivan, the fact that he was gay? His working with Janis, surveillance? His own betrayal, the international links, the plan for making money?
10. Peppino, all the trivial legislation, the Council meetings, his new draft, its being signed, the reaction of the people, all the support then the insistence on taxes and the popular reactions?
11. Peppino deciding that the government would go on strike, lack of transport, electricity, hospitals…?
12. The confrontation with Ivan, Janis urging Peppino on, the gay situation and humour? Ivan and his arrest?
13. Peppino, Janis admiring him, his daughter, the possibilities of good government – or not, the rivals, their comeuppance, and popular response?