(by Giorgio Gosetti)
Who would have told Paola Cortellesa (born in Rome on November 24, 1973) that tomorrow she would celebrate an important birthday looking down on the entire Italian cinema, thanks to the great success of her directorial debut in “Is There Another Tomorrow?”, which has now crossed the fatal line of 20 million euros at the box office? And who would have told the huge comedic actress, who graduated in film, television and theater (already won 16 major awards and excellent roles on TV), that her dramatic and intense role would make her the most loved performer today and was also portrayed by Italy for his constant commitment in favor of women and against gender-based violence? Paola Cortellesi will toast 50 bright years tomorrow in the company of her director husband and constant companion Riccardo Milani, and today’s recognition follows a career built on persistence, passion and flexibility since, at the age of just thirteen, she appeared singing “Cacao Marvelo” in the imaginary sponsor’s theme song ” Back all” by Renzo Arborea. Mina defined him as “one of the most beautiful voices of his generation”, capable of lively and inspiring impersonations (from politicians to singers, from actresses to public figures, including Michelle Obama) to the delight of “Gialappa’s Band” with whom she worked many times, versatile and lively actress, Paola Cortellesi is no stranger to popular success. It is enough to recall such titles as “The Last Will Be the Last” (first in the theater and then in the cinema), “Like a cat on the ring road”, “La befana vien di notte”; but these are only moments in a career that began a long time ago and whose foundational elements are over thirty films, five television plays, numerous guest appearances on primetime programs, the dubbing of much-loved films and the intense monologues she has written. Yes, because her first direction is the result of a parallel apprenticeship as a screenwriter from the film “Excuse me if I exist” in which she made her debut in 2014, also as the protagonist, in Riccardo Milani’s film, married in 2011 after nine years. fiance and father of only daughter Laura.
Her artistic pygmalion can be considered Enrico Vaime who debuted on the radio, in 1997 she landed on TV in the show “Macau” hosted by Alba Parietti: three years later she was in the cast of “Mai dire Gol” with Gialappa’s band. ” and participated in “Ask if I’m happy”, a film by Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo that jumped to the top of the Italian box office. He previously sharpened his technique in the theater (he left the Faculty of Letters to enroll in the Beatrice Bracco School of Acting) and is approaching world of music with TiroMancino’s videos (between 2000 and the following year). In the Italian song, he will find more than one accomplice, from Gianni Morandi to Claudio Baglioni to his friend Laura Pausini, with whom he will duet several times on TV. In his fat the list of honor also includes his own program (“Nessun dorma”, 12 episodes in 2004), joint hosting of the festival in Sanremo (2004), duets with Claudio Bisija for “Zelig” and intense interpretations far from comedy in the cinema such as ” Two Games”, “Sons”, “Petra” (TV series based on the novels of Alicia Giménez Bartlett). All this creates a photo of a versatile interpreter, capable of touching the most diverse chords of emotions, which is well remembered in her passionate monologue about a woman in David’s Night in 2018. in which she competed for “Like a cat on bypass”. The fruit of this constant work that led her to perfect her natural talent was concentrated this year in three awards won at the Rome Film Festival for the film “There’s Another Tomorrow”. Never before has a film been able to create an authentic wave of passion and civic awareness that can still be read on the faces of viewers (especially female viewers) who are patiently waiting in lines in front of the box office. But the dedication that the new director spends on public initiatives, meetings with schools, evenings across the peninsula, is not only a reflection of a successful professional: it is the true face of a woman of our time who knows how to look at History (his film is set in Rome in 1946, the first year of women’s voting rights) and knows how to talk to today’s women. That is why it is not only an artistic success, but a strong sign of the change in Italy. And for this reason – we can be sure – on her birthday she will have a lot of people ready to ideally toast with her. At one of the screenings in recent days, Paola Cortellesi reminded the audience full of young people: “It is the school that must train individuals, the good will of the teacher is not enough.” And that can also be films like hers. uses for. .
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