Coming-of-age drama “Ketticè” competes at the Locarno Film Festival, following director Giovanni Tortorici whose feature debut “Diciannove” launched from the Venice Horizons section last year, according to reporting published by Variety. Set in 2012 Palermo, the film explores teenage rebellion and social divides, featuring Monica Bellucci among a predominantly non-professional cast sourced through street casting.
Inside Giovanni Tortorici’s 2012 Palermo Coming-of-Age Film “Ketticè”
Director Giovanni Tortorici returns with his followup feature, “Ketticè,” following the festival run of his directorial debut, “Diciannove.” Set against the backdrop of Palermo in 2012, a period marked by political stagnation, cultural numbness, and the first pervasive impact of social media, the narrative centers on two sixteen-year-olds from starkly different social backgrounds, according to Variety.
The protagonists, Ketty and Giulio, build an exclusive friendship fueled largely by buying pot from a street dealer in a Palermo housing project. According to the official film synopsis reported by Variety, this ritual provides the teenagers with “a shared refuge in their search for freedom, away from the judging eye of the adult world.” The title itself, “Ketticè,” stems from Ketty’s nickname in Sicilian dialect.
Street Casting Meets Professional Acting: Monica Bellucci’s Role in “Ketticè”
Tortorici relied heavily on street casting to fill the cast of “Ketticè,” casting non-professional actors Rachele Testagrossa and Salvatore Gallina as Ketty and Giulio, respectively. However, the production also integrated professional talent, notably casting Monica Bellucci as Giulio’s mother, according to Variety.
Drawing from real-life observations of upper-class Sicilian women, Tortorici crafted a character who projects elegance and good manners in public while exhibiting eccentric and slightly violent behavior behind closed doors. According to Tortorici’s interview with Variety, Bellucci immediately grasped the complex psychology of the role during rehearsals, delivering a performance that locals from that aristocratic world found strikingly true to life.
Did you know?
Director Giovanni Tortorici wrote an early screenplay about 16-year-olds when he was around 22 years old. After completing his debut feature “Diciannove,” he rediscovered the older script, which ultimately inspired the social dynamics and power plays depicted in “Ketticè,” according to Variety.
Class Dynamics and Creative Guidance From Luca Guadagnino
The central dynamic of “Ketticè” hinges on the class contrast between Ketty, a working-class teen who is comfortable with physical fights, and Giulio, who hails from the city’s upper-middle class and aristocracy and is trained to maintain strict physical control, according to Variety.
Behind the scenes, Luca Guadagnino serves as a producer on both of Tortorici’s feature films. According to Tortorici, Guadagnino employs a maieutic advisory method—drawing inspiration from the Socratic method—acting akin to a psychoanalyst to help the director uncover his own authorial intentions and push past internal hesitation or external influences.
Frequently Asked Questions About “Ketticè”
What does the title “Ketticè” mean?
According to Variety, the title refers to the main character Ketty’s nickname in Sicilian dialect.
Where was “Ketticè” selected to premiere?
The film is in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, as reported by Variety.
Who stars in the film?
The lead roles are played by non-professional actors Rachele Testagrossa and Salvatore Gallina, alongside professional actress Monica Bellucci, according to Variety.
Explore More: Want to stay updated on international cinema and festival circuit news? Subscribe to our newsletter or leave a comment below to share your thoughts on upcoming coming-of-age dramas.
Related reading