21/10/2007

At the RomeFilmFest as a producer as well (of Marc Evans’ documentary In Prison My Whole Life [+see also:
trailer
film profile], in the Extra sidebar), UK actor Colin Firth won over the young audiences of Alice in the City with his latest, competition film, And When Did You Last See Your Father? [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which received a long, heartfelt applause.

Directed by Anand Tucker (Hilary and Jackie, Shopgirl) and written by David Nicholls, the film was adapted from Blake Morrison’s autobiographical novel on his tumultuous relationship with his father.

“It seems like an impossible work to make into a film,” said the star of Love, Actually [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Girl with a Pearl Earring [+see also:
trailer
film profile], who admits to loving the book, “because it’s intimate, private, very difficult to relate”. As well as to act, because “the relationship between fathers and sons is delicate, and acting in this film made me reflect upon on my personal experiences, more so than when I play a Roman legionnaire or a French nobleman”.

Having gained acclaim for his endearing turns in romantic comedies, Firth admits to feeling very much at ease in this kind of film and responded to those that said Father does not pertain to any specific genre by suggesting it be called a “introspective film”.

Shot in the magnificent countryside of Sussex and Derbyshire, Tucker’s film stars Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (as the father), who previously featured alongside Firth in the Bridget Jones saga. “He is one of the greatest actors in the world,” says Firth. “Knowing I’d be playing his son was one of the things that compelled me to accept the part. Besides the screenplay, naturally, because words are very, very important, almost as much as the voice. This is why, in England, dubbing is considered vandalism”.

To the point where the actor declined using an interpreter during the press conference, responding to questions in fluent Italian, which will have been useful to him for Genova, the film that Michael Winterbottom just finished shooting on the G8 events of 2001.

Sold internationally by UK company Intandem Films, Father was produced by Archer Street Productions, Audley Films, the Irish Film Board, EM Media, Father Features, Film4, Number 9 Films and the UK Film Council.

(Translated from Italian)