Poveri ma ricchi
Now at my tenth film as a director, I never thought I’d find myself facing so many FIRST TIMES. “Poveri ma Ricchi” (“Poor but Rich”) is my FIRST comic film. All the others were – more or less – sentimental comedies. It is my FIRST remake, the original version, “Les Tuche”, having been a huge success in France. It was readapted to the Italian reality because of some deep differences between Italy and France: the most important one being that in Italy winners of huge sums of money remain “hidden”, while in France they become TV stars. It is my FIRST film with Christian De Sica. This is my most bizarre first time, having written over ten successful Christmas films for Neri Parenti all starring Christian De Sica. But somehow I had never directed him in one of my own films. It is also my FIRST film with Enrico Brignano. And this is bizarre too, considering our friendship and mutual esteem and that I once produced one of his films as actor. It is my FIRST film set mainly in Milan. It is my FIRST film with a debuting musician: FRANCESCO GABBANI, winner of the newcomer’s section of the Sanremo Song Festival. It is also the FIRST film my dad will not be able see. And the first I directed as a dad. Perhaps this is why the story rotates around a family and the importance of staying united. Have fun!