Italian actor Elio Germano has won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Daniele Luchetti’s “La Nostra Vita”. He shares the award with the Spanish actor Javier Bardem.
In the film Germano plays Claudio, a labourer who, devastated by the death of his wife, uses all his energy to provide materially for his two sons. In doing so he becomes involved in some shady deals. Finally he realises that he cannot manage alone and asks for help.
The film was made by Rai Cinema in conjunction with the Italian production company Cattleya and the French company Babe Films. The project also received funding from the Italian Ministry of Culture.
However, Culture Minister Sandro Bondi, who has already caused controversy by refusing to attend the festival, is not entirely happy about the award. This is because Germano, in his acceptance speech, said that he dedicated the award “to Italy and to Italians, who do all in their power to make Italy a better country despite their rulers”. Mr Bondi said that the remark was inappropriate.
Rai coverage of the Cannes ceremony left out the contentious part of Germano’s speech, leaving the network open to allegations of censorship. Rai culture reporter Vincenzo Mollica has said that the omission was due to a technical fault.
The last Italian actor to win the Cannes Best Actor Award was Marcello Mastroianni in 1987.
Do you think that Germano’s remark was inappropriate?
