Italian film director Giovanni Veronesi will deliver a hit to Italian audiences with his third Manual of Love film with Robert De Niro starring in his first Italian film for 35 years since he appeared in the film Novecento, or 1900 by Bertolucci in 1976.
It’s exciting news for the Italian film industry and should only build on the previous huge success of the first two Manual of Love films.
The first earned over 14 million euros at the box office and the second improved on that with 19 million.
Film producer and Napoli Football Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that it’s big news for the production team.
“We needed a big hit, especially because these days 60-year-olds are youthful – they go to the cinema and our ‘manuals’ are directed at all ages, from adolescence up.
The various affectionate combinations are obvious at any season of life.
De Niro read the script, watched Giovanni’s films and accepted.
”Film director Veronesi goes on to confirm the part that De Niro will play: “His role will be that of an art-history professor who travels from Boston to Rome – the city he has always loved, studied and taught to his students.
Here he relives part of his youth, meeting a woman who is currently top secret.
But he is embarrassed, he needs to get back in the saddle and find his own time and rhythm right for love.
”According to reports, the top secret Italian actress who appeared in the other films will not be Laura Chiatti this time.
Needless to say, it is a marvellous thing for the Italians to have someone like Robert De Niro in the Belpaese, on set.
Veronesi says of his emotion on directing with De Niro:“I’ve worked with idols like David Bowie and Carlo Verdone, who gave me his trust.
Now De Niro: this time it’s a great actor who comes to visit us at home and who speaks our language.
I’m very excited….
a director needs to go in search of the people he admires to work with.
The dream has come true, but it means that when a take goes well, I’ll shout it out, but when it goes badly I’ll say it under my breath in Tuscan dialect.
”Filming is set to start in Rome from September 24th.