Marcello Mastroianni centenary celebrated with "Marcello Mio" screenings
September 28, 2024, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the cinema legend Marcello Mastroianni, best known for his collaborations with Federico Fellini. To commemorate this milestone, select Canadian theatres will screen the delightful comedy "Marcello Mio," which humorously and nostalgically reflects Mastroianni's life and career through a character played by his daughter, Chiara Mastroianni.
Chiara is an accomplished actress and the daughter of Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve. One summer, amidst the chaos in her life, she decides to emulate her father. She dresses, speaks, and acts like him so convincingly that those around her begin to believe it, calling her "Marcello."
"All my life, I've heard that I resemble my father. That’s why it intrigued me to use this resemblance on screen. An actress seldom gets the chance to portray both a man and a woman, perform in various languages, and confront personal feelings and memories," says Chiara Mastroianni.
Starring alongside Chiara in "Marcello Mio" are Catherine Deneuve, Fabrice Luchini, Melvil Poupaud, Benjamin Biolay, and Nicole Garcia. Director Christophe Honoré, a frequent collaborator with Chiara Mastroianni, directs the film. Chiara earned an award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Honoré’s "Room 212." "Marcello Mio" is Honoré's fifth film to be featured at this prestigious festival, and his third to premiere in the Main Competition, following "Love Songs" and "Sorry Angel."
"Marcello Mio" is a humorous and nostalgic homage to Marcello Mastroianni's iconic roles and the places associated with him, particularly from Fellini’s "La Dolce Vita" and "8 1/2." Chiara Mastroianni channels her father through these celebrated roles, speaks fluent Italian, spends time with her mother, Catherine Deneuve, and embarks on self-discovery. The film also delves into themes of identity and uses the past as a reflective tool for the present. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex, behind-the-scenes world of cinema.
"One of the initial concepts for this film was to explore the everyday lives of actors when they are not on set. This 'downtime' occupies most of their lives. However, an actor never stops being an actor even when off the set; it’s a unique interaction with the world. I aimed to portray Chiara in ordinary, everyday moments, surrounded by her loved ones. She is unique because her private and professional lives are intertwined, given her famous parents. In 'Marcello Mio,' I reconstruct this exceptional family story from a fictional standpoint, blending echoes and analogies, blurring the lines between fiction and reality," adds Christophe Honoré.
