Italian cinema has a rich history. Sophia Loren began her career in it. It helped make Clint Eastwood into a major star. And now Simona Mangiante has the leading role in T’ho aspettata da una vita [English translation: I’ve Been Waiting for You for a Lifetime], a short Italian film about to debut. She spoke with me about this psychological thriller, providing a tease of the plot and some behind-the-scenes details about the work that went into making the movie.
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Paul Hair: What is your role in the film?
Simona Mangiante: I am Laura, the leading character of the movie. Laura is a young businesswoman with an eclectic and complex personality.
PH: Who directed it and are there any other people involved with it you’d like to mention?
SM: The director is James La Motta, a talented Italian filmmaker and actor, known for his work with the series Gomorra [Gomorrah] and L’amica Geniale [My Brilliant Friend] (Italian made series well-known to the American public). James is known also for his sensitive approach to social issues. The cast was amazing as well. I played, among others, with Miriam Landi, famous for Italy’s Got Talent, and Gaia Cammarota, a very beautiful and very young promising actress.
PH: You describe the film as “a psychological thriller about the labyrinth of a woman’s mind?” Can you provide any further details about it?
SM: My character, Laura, struggles in between the frustrated desire to be a mother and the turmoils of her professional ambitions.
She switches from a sophisticated appearance to a neglected one, living in two parallel universes in which she impersonates two different psychological profiles. Those universes will never cross; they only live in her psychotic delusions.
It has been fascinating, from the acting point of view, to give life to those conflicting moods and impersonate the psychological drama that will lead to a tragic ending.
PH: Where did you shoot the film and what was your general experience with it? How long did it take to shoot it and did you have a good time?
SM: The set is Pozzuoli, a mesmerizing city on the Gulf of Naples, famous for being Sophia Loren’s hometown.
The set is spectacular. We started filming on July 2021 and finished on September (with some holidays in between).
The location has a special meaning to me: it’s the first time I filmed in my region. I am originally from Caserta, a city 30 km from Naples. It was a big emotion to be immersed in my roots overlooking “my sea.”
It was intense. And I hope the intensity of my emotions were transmitted to the character.
PH: Is there a trailer for the movie?
SM: You can watch the trailer [below].
PH: When can people expect to see it and in which countries? What language is spoken in it?
SM: The first screening will be at international film festivals, and theatrical screenings in Italy. The language is Italian and is subtitled in English.
PH: Do you have any future acting roles lined up?
SM: I am ready to fly back to America where I have lined up 3 big projects. I will film in New Mexico, Los Angeles, and Miami . . . stay tuned.
Top Image: Excerpt of photo from IMDB.
Italian cinema has a lot of gems – Simona is one of them! Stunning, intelligent, and an entrepreneur. She’d make a great Bond girl!
agreed. 100