Basilicata coast-to-coast

The journey, not the destination, is the point of "Basilicata Coast to Coast," the Rocco Papaleo's genial helming debut concerning a motley foursome walking across the south Italian province of Basilicata before participating in a music festival.
This winning take on the road-movie/buddy-movie formula benefits enormously from expert lensing by top d.p. Fabio Olmi, plus a game cast, and while musical energy flags in the second half, it allows room for a bit of character development.

I have just seen this movie ad I strongly reccomend it to everybody, for the content, the music and the setting.
New York is great, going to the cinema and have the possibility to speak with the movie's director is not so common in Italy!



Plot
When Nicola (helmer Papaleo) decides to enter his unassuming band in a music festival on the other side of Basilicata, he strikes upon the idea of walking there, partly as a gimmick and partly as a bonding journey. A trip that takes less than two hours by car will take 10 days on foot alongside a horse and cart, but everyone's willing: sweet-natured Salvatore (Paolo Briguglia), his hipster ex-TV celeb cousin, Rocco (Alessandro Gassman), and amiable mute Franco (Max Gazze).
The only press interested in the stunt is a local rag run by priests, who assign reluctant journalist Tropea (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) to cover their steps. Picaresque adventures befall the group as they amble across imposing landscapes, occasionally jamming but more often interacting with themselves and a few locals. Along the way, chinks are revealed in psychological walls, and ambition (and lack thereof) is examined from multiple sides.

The proverbial warmth of Italy's south radiates from Papaleo's unshaven mug. Despite the title's touristy sound, the helmer avoids turning his film into a travel board advertisement, carefully using the beauty of the landscape for aesthetic pleasures without making it a subject for its own sake. Protags have enough personality to make viewers want to accompany them on their journey, and they're given just enough background to allow for that satisfying trajectory heading toward probable happiness.
Gassman has perfected his Guido stud swagger, yet still makes Rocco a sympathetic figure, and Briguglia exudes an appealing freshness that's been underutilized in the local industry.





Other info:
Camera (color), Fabio Olmi; editor, Christian Lombardi; music, Rita Marcotulli; production designers, Sonia Peng, Elio Maiello; costume designer, Claudio Cordaro; sound (Dolby Digital), Francesco Liotard, Stefano di Fiore; assistant director/casting, Livio Bordone. Reviewed at Cinema Adriano, Rome, April 29, 2010. Running time: 103 MIN.