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Sicilian Letters

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Sicilian Letters
SicilianIddu
Directed byFabio Grassadonia
Antonio Piazza
Written byFabio Grassadonia
Antonio Piazza
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLuca Bigazzi
Edited byPaola Freddi
Music byColapesce
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • September 5, 2024 (2024-09-05) (Venice)
Running time
122 minutes
Countries
  • Italy
  • France
LanguagesItalian, Sicilian

Sicilian Letters (Sicilian: Iddu, lit.'He') is a 2024 crime drama film written and directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza. The film stars Elio Germano as Sicilian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro and Toni Servillo as Catello, an operative in the Italian secret service.[1]

The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it will be competing for the Golden Lion.[2]

Premise

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In the early 2000s, the embattled politician Catello seeks to revive his career by helping the Secret Service track down the last known Cosa Nostra boss, Matteo Messina Denaro, whom Catello has known his entire life. The two begin corresponding via letters in a game of cat and mouse.[3]

Cast

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Production

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Initially, the film had the working title Lettere a Catello ("Letters to Catello"), a title based on the Salvatore Mugno's [it] book about Messina Denaro Lettere a Svetonio.[4] Grassadonia and Piazza worked for two years on the screenplay.[4] The film was shot in the summer of 2023 between Trapani, Sciacca, Salemi and Selinunte.[4]

Release

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In July 2024, Sicilian Letters was announced as a main competition entry for that year's Venice Film Festival.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Vivarelli, Nick. "Les Films du Losange Takes Sales on Mafia Drama 'Sicilian Letters' as First-Look Images of Elio Germano and Toni Servillo Are Revealed (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Vivarelli, Nick; Shafer, Ellise. "Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker 2' With Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' and Luca Guadagnino's Daniel Craig-Led 'Queer' to Debut in Competition". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Sicilian Letters". Les Films du Losange. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Cardinale, Jana (7 January 2024). "La vita di "Iddu" in Sicilia: i retroscena (pure sul titolo) del primo film su Messina Denaro". Balarm (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2024.
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