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CANNES, France – The breakout performance at the Cannes Film Festival this year isAniello Arena's turn as a Naples fishmonger who becomes obsessedwith appearing on a "Big Brother"-style TV show in "Reality." But the star will not be walking the red carpet at the Italianmovie's gala premiere Friday. He'll be where he has been for twodecades — in prison. Arena is riveting in the film by "Gomorrah" director Matteo Garrone— lively, likable and lost — and many viewers wereastonished to learn he is a lifer who has worked for a decade withthe respected Fortezza prison theater company but has neverappeared in a feature film. "I wanted him to appear in 'Gomorrah,' but the judge wouldn't allowit," said Garrone, whose bloody crime drama won Cannes' secondprize in 2008. "We received the authorization for him to appear inthe film (Reality) but he was not allowed to come here to Cannes." Garrone said the absence was "not too bitter a disappointment" forArena, because the movie's success means he can continue acting.Movie publicists would not comment on the nature of his crime. Incarceration — mental rather than physical — is atheme of the movie, the only Italian entry among 22 contenders forCannes' top prize, the Palme d'Or. Arena plays Luciano, a hustlingbut cheery family man who becomes obsessed with the notion oftelevision fame. Garrone said the film depicts reality TV as "a paradise on Earth— a kind of El Dorado that people want to reach." Enteringthe "Big Brother" house becomes an idea that traps Luciano andgradually takes over his life. The director said the 40-something Arena's exposure to the outsideworld after years behind bars helped him capture the essence of aman who is beguiled by a world that is new to him. "I think you can see that in his eyes and in his look," saidGarrone. "The character had to be portrayed by someone who is quitecandid." It's a departure from "Gomorrah," his blood-soaked portrait ofNaples' ruthless Camorra crime syndicate. Garrone said he spent along time looking for a "powerful subject" for his follow-upfeature before alighting on the idea of a simple tale that wouldallow him to show another slice of Neapolitan life and "portraywith great love a character while denouncing an aspect of society." It's hard not to see the story as a satire on ourcelebrity-obsessed culture, but Garrone wants it to have thetimeless quality of a fable. He compares it to "Pinocchio," thestory of a puppet who yearns to be a real boy. Luciano is a realman who yearns to be a celebrity. "I don't think I have ever been a very realistic director," Garronesaid. "I talk about reality and then transfigure it, lend anotherdimension — and then it becomes a fable." "Reality" is full of heart and humor — especially from thevoluble, Fellini-esque assortment of characters who make upLuciano's family and neighbors — but it turns darker asLuciano's single-minded pursuit of fame leads to a kind of madness. "Initially our idea was to produce a comedy," said screenwriter UgoChiti. "I think the comedy evolved ... and turned into a sort oftragedy." ___ Jill Lawless can be reached at http:twitter.com/JillLawless. I am an expert from custompcbboard.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Printed Circuit Board Fabrication , HDI PCB Design Manufacturer, Custom PCB Board,and more.
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