Mandy Griffiths
Italian actress Nadir Caselli is a special guest of the Lavazza Italian Film Festival this year, visiting Australia to introduce her films – the ensemble romantic comedy “University: More Than Friends” and the comedy “I Can Quit Whenever I Want”.
A sought-after model in her teens, Nadir who is fluent in English, made her screen debut in 2008 at just 18 when she starred in director Matteo Rovere’s drama Bad Girls (Un gioco da ragazze) an evocative snapshot of teenage Europe. Cited by Italy’s foremost movie magazine, Fabrique du Cinema as one of the country’s six most promising actors, we spoke to Nadir about making the transition from model to actor, working on a film with great female characters and the state of the Italian film industry.
Welcome to Australia! The Italian Film Festival is fantastic for us as we don’t get a lot of Italian cinema here normally. Do you have any recommendations of films for people to check out?
Nadir: Yes, besides “University: More Than Friends” of course, I have two recommendations and they are “I Can Quit Whenever I Want” and “Mafia Kills Only in the Summer”. They are great.
Congratulations on “University” – it was so charming and heart felt. What was it that attracted you to the character of Giorgia?
Nadir: I liked Girogia because she’s kind of insecure from the lack of affection from her parents. Her father was a Diplomat so he travelled around the world a lot. She grew up and she feels alone so she needs some kind of family and she finds this in the new house she shares with five other young students. And she will fall in love [laughs].
It’s interesting in that this is a very Italian film but I thought the themes were universal – being away from home for the first time, deciding what you want to do and who you want to be, getting out from your parents shadow…was that something you identified with?
Nadir: Yes. I went to Rome when I was 19 – out of the shadow of my Mum and so on – such as my character, even though my Mother is more present in my life. But she more than meets her autonomy and independence. Federico Moccia, the director, describes very well the world of the students, some for different reasons, but they all need to grow up and made decisions for their life so it’s a very important time of their life.
I loved in the film that the three female characters were all really fleshed out and they got along with each and supportive of each other, and they weren’t just love interests. Was that nice to play with?
Nadir: I think supportive is a good word to describe their relationship. In reality and in the film we had real relationships so it was easier for us. We are all young actors and we get on well, we get together all the time – we spend a lot of time together and we spend it well [laughs].
There’s a film within a film in this and I loved the scenes from the “documentary” that is created – were these scripted or were you given free reign?
Nadir: It was scripted but we had a lot of freedom. We had another directing doing that and he told us to do what we want and he captured it. So we played most of the time, it was a great time [laughs].
Sounds like an ideal film set.
Nadir: Yes!
I loved your character’s style in the film, did you have much input into that?
Nadir: I really liked that aspect of the character. I love fashion, I really love it, and I had lots of ideas coming that character and the costume and her profession. I enjoyed very much doing that side of my character because she’s inventive, creative. It’s what transports her to her new path. It brings her to a new life. She stops studying fashion at one point in the film as she doesn’t want to be scheduled, but her passion goes on and she tries to be a designer.
Towards the end of the film there’s a line about meeting back at the house in 10 years, do you think there’s a possibility for a sequel?
Nadir: It does provide the opportunity for a sequel but I don’t know. I hope so!
You began your career in modelling, what drew you to acting?
Nadir: When I was younger – 14, 15 – I attended an English course and I enjoyed it very much. I come from Tuscany and there we are a bit more separated from cinema, from the industry – we are very quiet [laughs]. So I never thought it could become a job for me. I began modelling in Florence and my agency told me to participate in cinema castings, and after three or four I was chosen. It was lucky and it was my opportunity to begin in this job. And I took it [laughs].
What was it like working on “Bad Girls” – your first film?
Nadir: It was incredible for me. When I was there I realised that character was similar to me, or what I appeared to be at that time. She was a young girl who follows other people – she was the bad of the bad [laughs]. She was a girl with some problems with affection. It was difficult for me making people believe I was not that person.
Because you were too good!
Nadir: [laughs]. I’m not like that. But it was great because she was different from me but I was believable in the role. But it was confusing – at that age and as a first film role – it was more difficult but it was great. Totally worth it.
Over the Australian film industry is struggling a little bit as there’s not a lot of budget around, and because we’re English speaking it’s so easy to just import and go see US films. What is the situation like for Italy at the moment?
Nadir: Italian cinema has some difficulties I think in the way many of the countries have. But I think the brilliant ideas will help take it to another level. I hope there will be lots of ideas because we will need them [laughs]. There is some difficulties with budget and everything so we have to improve ourselves and create the best we can in this period. But we have to because cinema must go on.
Your English is excellent.
Nadir: Thank you
Would you be interested at some point in heading over to the US and doing English speaking films?
Nadir: Yes that’s the dream for all actors I think [laughs]. So yes of course but wouldn’t go over there without a solid opportunity because I think there are so many young actors native/mother tongue they need to have their chance in their country. But if the chance would come to me I would take it [laughs].
What’s coming up next for you?
Nadir: Next I am preparing a theatre show in Rome. Also next year I should be in the next season of “Don Matteo”, I don’t know if you know it here but it’s a very popular show in Italy with Terrence Hill. I made it last year so next year we will be on set again.
Enjoy the rest of your time in Australia!
Nadir: Thank you!
The Lavazza Italian Film Festival is running around the county until mid-October. Check out the website for information http://www.italianfilmfestival.com.au/
