Ludovico + Lasciami Andare | Film Work
From the day we brought him home, my son Ludovico Benedetti has been surrounded by our friends and family, many of whom are artists, designers, photographers, actors, filmmakers, poets, musicians – basically any artistic soul you can imagine. Watching him grow into his own identity, I am filled with joy to see him discover his own pathway of expressing his creativity. This includes acting – and his performance in the upcoming film Lasciami Andare.
Based on the novel You Came Back, by Christopher Coake, the film is deeply psychological and suspenseful. The brilliant director, who also co-wrote the screenplay, Stefano Mordini set the story in the beautiful backdrop of Venice (the book was based in Ohio). The protagonist is played by one of Italy’s most beloved actors, Stefano Accorsi, with whom Ludovico had the fortune to perform. Valeria Golino, whom I have adored since her early career role in Rain Man, was the mother of Ludovico’s character – called Giacomo. How special to observe her professionally and off-screen, a deeply artistic soul.
Both on and off the set, Valeria Golino encouraged Ludovico, and proclaimed him “a natural”. She even expressed a desire to work with him on a more in-depth film, where he might be the lead. This was unforgettable for me – a proud moment when I began to perceive my son’s gift. Observing Golino, Accorsi and other cast members at work on the set gave me a renewed respect for the actors’ artistry – their amazing ability to imbue emotion into their bodies and voices.
Beyond the acting, the process of creating an emotional atmosphere in a film relies on many other elements – and the extraordinarily talented, mostly “unseen” crew members – to express a single vision, held together by the director. From costume designers, to makeup artists, the cinematographers and the coordinators of every detail, the people in collaboration each contribute to the magical outcome.
During much of the filming, Venice was experiencing “aqua alta” – high tides that created real-life drama in the city, which the filmmakers integrated beautifully into the movie’s scenography. I was impressed by how much the entire film immersed us both, how the crew took care of Ludovico on the flooded “set” of the city. They even carried him for blocks at a time, making sure he did not get overly tired wading in the thigh-high floods.
If you would like to see the film for yourself, it will be in the Italian theaters starting October 8th. Following that, I can’t wait until it appears on a streaming network with subtitles, for us all to see.
