Piano, solo (2007)

Director:

Riccardo Milani

Writers:

Walter Veltroni (book) and
Ivan Cotroneo (story) ...

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (Italy)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Kim Rossi Stuart	...	Luca Flores
Jasmine Trinca	...	Cinzia
Paola Cortellesi	...	Baba
Michele Placido	...	Giovanni
Sandra Ceccarelli	...	Jolanda
Claudio Gioè	...	Alessandro
Mariella Valentini	...	Heidi
Corso Salani	...	Pablo
Roberto De Francesco	...	Raffaele
Konrad Podolny	...	Luca Flores bambino
Alba Rohrwacher	...	Marta
Maurizio Urbani	...	Massimo
Alan King	...	Chet Baker
Federica Vincenti	...	Infermiera CIM
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alphonse Baya	...	Thomas
Gerardo Eliano Cozzolino	...	Pablo Flores bambino
Dama Duncan	...	Elizabeth Bambina
Hawa Essuman	...	Ragazza di colore
Mwanaidi Kaboi	...	Elizabeth
Nicholas Kimani	...	Autista di Luca
Beatrice Maione	...	Barbara Flores bambina
Konga Mbandu	...	Poliziotto
Kristy McGovern	...	Heidi Flores - Bambina
Conrad Mwakio	...	Tassista
Mario Monaci Toschi	...	Avventore locale
John Tune	...	Thomas bambino

Also Known As:

Il disco del mondo (Italy) (working title)
Il disco del mondo: Piano solo (Italy) (working title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

Hugo Films

Kim Rossi Stuart is the best Italian actor, period!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

OK, the film isn't a masterpiece but Stuart's performance is flawless! ..and Luca Flores is one the biggest pianists of the 20th century. I recommend listening to the (worryingly titled) album "For those I never knew". It's incredibly moving, especially if you know when he recorded most of it (* see below).

Probably the main flaws of the movie are:

1) as regards to the screenplay: a somewhat simplification of Flores' insanity. In my opinion his profoundness, thoughts and experiences (especially through music) about the painfulness/sadness of human life represent the main culprit of his disease. Of course the tragic death of his mother fits in this picture. However, Stuart's performance is impeccable.

2) Jasmine Trinca, who's a mediocre actress indeed: his performance is unbearably affected (and always self-similar), especially when considering the incredible naturalness of Kim Rossi Stuart. Mysteriously, many Italian directors (e.g. Moretti, Giordana) want her for their movies... Further her character is not very well defined and somewhat implausible: for example, why did she miscarry? did she actually betray him? if not, was her reaction excused enough?

(*) just before committing suicide