04/12/2013 - For his third film, the director of La peggior settimana della mia vita has had an entire house built in the historic studios of via Tuscolana

“I liked the fact that the film was set in a world of fantasy, like a soap opera.” For this, Alessandro Genovesi decided to film his new film – Soap Opera – entirely in the Cinecittà studios. The set, which the press was allowed to visit during a meeting with director and actors, plays an important part in this new feature length film by the man behind hits La peggior settimana della mia vita [+see also:
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film profile] and Il peggior Natale della mia vita [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (€19 million at the box-office). Four apartments have been reconstructed in the most minute of details at the historic studios in via Tuscolana, which constitute a small building where characters in this multi-storyline film move around.  Actors include Fabio De Luigi and Cristiana Capotondi (both already in the director’s first two films), Ricky Memphis (recently in The Fifth Wheel [+see also:
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interview: Giovanni Veronesi
film profile]), Chiara Francini (also in La peggiore settimana della mia vita), French Elisa Sednaoui and comic duo Ale and Franz.

“I am happy that I was given the opportunity to make a film I would define as strange,” Genovesi said. “We worked on the film set like maniacs. The sensation is that we are making a type of cinema that no longer exists, where nothing is true, but all is magic and precious.” The film will have a bit of a retro air, even if it is set in today’s world. At one point, some of the walls will disappear in the residence and we will see the four apartments functioning simultaneously.

The screenplay, written by Genovesi himself – who, it is worth remembering, was also the author of Happy Family [+see also:
film review
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film profile] by Gabriele Salvatores – tells the story of the hatred, love, misunderstandings and complicated trajectories that tie together the inhabitants of a strange residence, just a few hours before new year’s eve. Francesco (De Luigi) is still in love with his ex Anna (Capotondi) who realises she is pregnant by another man; Paolo (Memphis) is expecting a son by his wife but suddenly doubts his own sexuality; Francesca’s (Sednaoui) ex has just committed suicide; and Alice (Francini), is a well known star from a television show set in the 18^th century with a passion for men in uniforms; finally Gianni and Mario (Ale and Franz) are twin brothers who - after an accident - are tied to each other, with one in a wheel chair and the other by his side. The night will be full of twists and turns.

Filming for Soap Opera will come to a close on December 13, for a total of seven weeks’ work. The film is produced by Colorado Film in collaboration with Medusa Film for a budget of €5 million. The release is set for autumn 2014 with Medusa. 

(Translated from Italian)