Directors mario martone and Paolo Sorrentino both hail from Naples, the bustling port city that Martone vividly portrays in his drama “Nostalgia”, which is Italy’s competitor in the international race for the Oscars.

The well-received photo, which was praised by Variety Guy Lodge review As the prolific Italian auteur’s “most rewarding film in years”, Pierfrancesco Favino stars as Felice Lasco, a middle-aged Neapolitan who returns to his hometown after living in Egypt for 40 years. While Felice is overtaken by the memories of his distant Neapolitan life, his criminal youth is slowly and fatally catching up with him.

Besides Favino, the cast of “Nostalgia” also includes Francesco Di Leva, who played the main role in Martone’s “The Mayor of Rione Sanità” and in this drama plays a priest, Father Loffredo, who tries to help the protagonist to navigate in today’s Naples.

Martone and Sorrentino, who have long lived in Rome, both recently returned to Naples to shoot films there. In the case of Sorrentino, his autobiography “The Hand of God” marks a return to his roots. For Martone, although less personal, “Nostalgia” is an ode to her city, but also to how childhood memories affect our lives.

During a conversation on stage in Rome, the two Neapolitan authors discussed their relationship with Naples and the nostalgia itself, which, according to Sorrentino, “is not just a feeling, but a desire to return to the ‘place where we discovered the world’.

Here are edited excerpts from the conversation to which Variety has exclusive access.

Sorrento: For me, nostalgia is not just a feeling, but a desire to return to where we discovered the world. Everything we learn about the world as adults is an interpretation. I wanted to ask you what does nostalgia mean to you?

Martine: It is related to childhood. Following up on what you said, which was wonderful. But nostalgia isn’t just about the childhood you experienced: getting to know the world as we do as young people. When Ippolita di Majo and I read the book, we fell in love with Felice Lasco because Felice regains a sense of wonder; the wonder of his childhood. There is still a child in him.

Sorrento: Questions about Napoli are always difficult to answer. But since it’s not me who has to answer, I’ll just ask the question. At the beginning of the film, the character of Favino says, if I’m not mistaken: “Nothing has changed here.” Then there’s the whole story of Father Loffredo where instead it seems like the town has changed drastically. So I just wanted to ask you: have things in Napoli changed or not?

Martine: Paolo, in Naples, everything changes, and nothing changes. Everything changes because people fight; because Naples is a high energy city and fortunately this energy generates changes, and above all it generates moments [of change]. Beautiful, powerful, joyful moments. But then Orestes kills Felice and that’s incredibly important. The night we shot the murder scene was unforgettable, there was a sense of dismay. I practically turned it with my eyes closed because it hurt so much.

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