Don’t stop me now

Directed by Director's notes
  • Riccardo Milani
Directed by
  • Riccardo Milani
Year
  • 2019
Length
  • 94 min.
Year
  • 2019
Length
  • 94 min.
Cast
  • Paola Cortellesi
  • Stefano Fresi
  • Tomas Arana
  • Emanuele Armani
  • Teco Celio
  • Remo Girone
  • Chiara Luzzi
  • Vinicio Marchioni
  • Lucia Mascino
 
  • Ricky Memphis
  • Paola Minaccioni
  • Giampaolo Morelli
  • Claudia Pandolfi
  • Alessandro Roia
  • Carla Signoris
Synopsis

Giovanna (Paola Cortellesi) is a subdued, even boring woman, who divides her time between work at the Ministry, her daughter Martina’s school commitments, and the teasing of her exuberant mother (Carla Signoris). Behind this drab facade, Giovanna is actually a secret agent, engaged in highly dangerous international missions. On the occasion of a high school reunion with her old classmates, the glorious “Fantastic 5” (Stefano Fresi, Vinicio Marchioni, Lucia Mascino, Claudia Pandolfi), amidst memories and laughter, Giovanna listens to everyone’s stories and realizes that everyone, just like her, is forced to endure daily small and large absurd harassments. With all the means at her disposal and thanks to the most extravagant disguises, she will create hilarious situations that will help restore order in her life and in the lives of the people she cares about.

Director's notes
  • This time, perhaps more than others, we looked around and told a story. Because in this story, perhaps more than in others, there is very little or nothing invented. Having now acquired the reality of a country where for many, fortunately not yet for all, not respecting laws and rules has become a source of pride and revenge, for some time now (indeed: when and why did all this begin?) it has become winning to question expertise, sow doubt, unfortunately gathering certainties that doctors, teachers, judges, coaches of one's children, airline crew and so on, from profession to profession, are never up to their task. And, above all, with the conviction of knowing how to do it better. A worm that seems to be gnawing not only at the trunk (which, with difficulty, grows back), but also and above all at the roots of civil coexistence. I didn't initially look for new styles and genre mixing, but we did a few more chases while telling the life and work of a woman whose primary ambition is non-news. To portray the character played by Paola Cortellesi, a woman who helps the country in silence, and to portray her friends, means wanting to stage women and men of this country who do this every day: in schools, hospitals, courts and in all places where they work. To tell all this and laugh about it, to attempt a critical and self-critical look at the country, we used a light tone and popular language. Among my desires, then, I had that of speaking to those who don't think like me. An audience perhaps distant, but with whom I feel the need and necessity to confront myself. I thank the large and important cast, I thank them all, one by one, especially for the impetus around a project that tries to talk about the present and future of our country. Seeking a way to question and reflect on what passes through our minds these days. I thank Wildside and Vision for having followed, protected and supported me on this path.
Directed by
  • RICCARDO MILANI
Made by
  • WILDSIDE
Story and screenplay
  • FURIO ANDREOTTI
  • GIULIA CALENDA
  • PAOLA CORTELLESI
  • RICCARDO MILANI
Produced by
  • MARIO GIANANI and LORENZO MIELI
A production
  • WILDSIDE and VISION DISTRIBUTION
In association with
  • IMPREBANCA pursuant to the tax credit rules
In association with
  • CRÉDIT AGRICOLE VITA pursuant to the tax credit rules
In collaboration with
  • SKY CINEMA
In collaboration with
  • TIMVISION
Executive producer
  • OLIVIA SLEITER, GIANLUCA LEURINI
Editing
  • PATRIZIA CERESANI
  • FRANCESCO RENDA
Scenography
  • MAURIZIA NARDUCCI
Director of photography
  • SAVERIO GUARNA
Costumes
  • ALBERTO MORETTI
Original score
  • ANDREA GUERRA
Sound
  • ADRIANO DI LORENZO
Assistant Director
  • GIORGIO MELIDONI
Makeup
  • ERMANNO SPERA
Casting
  • ANTONIO ROTUNDI
Distribution
  • VISION DISTRIBUTION
Director's notes
X

This time, perhaps more than others, we looked around and told a story. Because in this story, perhaps more than in others, there is very little or nothing invented. Having now acquired the reality of a country where for many, fortunately not yet for all, not respecting laws and rules has become a source of pride and revenge, for some time now (indeed: when and why did all this begin?) it has become winning to question expertise, sow doubt, unfortunately gathering certainties that doctors, teachers, judges, coaches of one's children, airline crew and so on, from profession to profession, are never up to their task. And, above all, with the conviction of knowing how to do it better. A worm that seems to be gnawing not only at the trunk (which, with difficulty, grows back), but also and above all at the roots of civil coexistence. I didn't initially look for new styles and genre mixing, but we did a few more chases while telling the life and work of a woman whose primary ambition is non-news. To portray the character played by Paola Cortellesi, a woman who helps the country in silence, and to portray her friends, means wanting to stage women and men of this country who do this every day: in schools, hospitals, courts and in all places where they work. To tell all this and laugh about it, to attempt a critical and self-critical look at the country, we used a light tone and popular language. Among my desires, then, I had that of speaking to those who don't think like me. An audience perhaps distant, but with whom I feel the need and necessity to confront myself. I thank the large and important cast, I thank them all, one by one, especially for the impetus around a project that tries to talk about the present and future of our country. Seeking a way to question and reflect on what passes through our minds these days. I thank Wildside and Vision for having followed, protected and supported me on this path.