We usually remember the famous actor Robert De Niro for his connection to Corleone's Sicily, obviously for his Oscar role in the Godfather Part II. But this time De Niro felt the need to talk about the city of Napoli, thanking Paolo Sorrentino for his film "It was the hand of God".
The famous actor released an interview with Dadline explaining why Sorrentino's film managed to touch him so deeply.
Our Customers translated for you the exact words released by Robert De Niro on the matter.
"Sorrentino's Napoli reminds me of the NY I love"
There are so many great things in The Hand of God, Paolo Sorrentino's rich history. It is an intensely personal film. Sorrentino, who wrote and directed, created his surrogate Fabietto from his own DNA and his experiences, and set the film in his native Naples.
Fabietto's most important co-star isn't one of the wonderful cast, but rather the city itself. He shares Sorrentino's love for Naples in the beautiful opening shots of an aerial approach to the city on the Gulf of Naples. And you see him in his affection for the variety of characters: eccentric, often very funny, larger than life, passionate (and by this I mean loud), full of joy and hope. I've only been to Naples a few times, but for me this film feels distinctly Neapolitan in the way that many of the films of Marty Scorsese (Wolf of Wall Street, Bringing Out the Dead, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, etc.) and many of the Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Broadway Danny Rose, Manhattan, etc.) essentially seem to New York. In so many ways, Naples reminds me of the Italian-American New York that I love.
De Niro remembers his experiences in New York City as a child
The location of southern Italy it serves Sorrentino's narrative well. He says: “Reality is just the starting point for a story. It has to be reinvented. Here in Naples, we have a fun way to reinvent memories ”. Despite the tragedy that is at the literal center of the film, The Hand of God overflows with fun. Scenes like the extended family alfresco dining and subsequent boat ride are so fascinating and fun. And while the central story is that of Fabietto being ripped from his precarious youth and dragged into premature and unwelcome adulthood, the stories along the way are priceless. For example, there is Armà, the cigarette smuggler, the cheap hooligan, the violent hooligan, the sympathetic friend and finally the jailbird; extravagant, yes, but completely credible for me because of the my experiences in New York City as a child.
De Niro thanks Sorrentino
And there is Capuan (the real Antonio Capuano, famous Neapolitan director, who became mentor of the young Sorrentino). In a splendid scene near the end of The Hand of God, Fabietto begs Capuano to give him direction. Capuano alternately questions him and scolds him, their voices rise, almost musically. It looks like a scene from a great work. Fabietto tells him: “I don't like reality anymore. Reality sucks. This is why I want to make films ”. He wants to go to Rome to make it big in the cinema. Capuano screams: “Only assholes go to Rome! You know how many stories there are in this city… Look! … Is it possible that this city doesn't inspire you at all? … Do you have a story to tell? Find the courage to tell it! … Speak up!".
Fabietto goes to Rome anyway. When the film ends, he is already on his way. And now - 35 years later - Sorrentino has returned to Naples from The Hand of God. Okay. Thank you very much, Paolo!
