Russell Crowe, the “gladiator” of world cinema, in Puglia

Dear readers,

I want to share with you the emotions I felt on a very special day.

Wednesday, June 21 with my backpack, pc, telephone and notebook I leave to Taranto and I arrive at the Rélais Historia San Pietro. There is the Apulian press, the TG3 Rai Puglia and several local broadcasters; I am also a representative of the blog-web. I waited anxiously for this moment, because I am about to meet my undisputed and absolute myth, the award actor Oscar Russell Crowe.

It presents itself with a simple clothing, white shorts with blue polo, sneakers and sunglasses, but its charism invades the whole room. He came to Puglia to hold his concert, with the band “Indoor Garden Party” that will be held Thursday, June 22 at Villa Peiato Arena. It does not appear as a Hollywood divo which in fact is, but humble, sociable with all, affable, sympathetic, tender and generous in answering questions addressed to him.

A journalist asked him where the relationship between him and our country was born, he answered by enchanting the beauty of Italy, its people, food and art. Towards the end of the press conference, challenging my shyness, I introduce myself and ask him this question:

“I was trying to make a premise that meeting her here today for me is already a great victory. She is a complete and free artist, she testifies to her extraordinary career that has seen him an absolute protagonist in cinema, theatre and also in music. The common sense considers him a master rather than a disciple, but at every good account I ask what were his points of reference in his artistic formation and if the Italian cinema is among them?”

After reflecting, he replied that he had not had a real master to become an artist.

He pointed out that his artistic career was constellated by important meetings: like Franco Nero who had met in Venice in 1996, and from that meeting the desire of both to make a film together was born: so, years later, Russell wanted Franco Nero to play the protagonist of his film “The Exorcist of the Pope”. Russell Crowe has given us to point out that Italian cinema, in particular Neorealism, has undoubtedly characterized the culture, literature and history of world cinema.

He expressed his admiration for the directors Antonioni and Bertolucci. He recalled with pleasure his collaboration with Gabriele Muccino in the film “Padri e Figlie” of 2015 and quoted among the Italian comic actors his favorite Roberto Benigni. At the end of his press conference, Russell Crowe was allowed to sign autographs, do selfies and greeted everyone with so much affability.

Russell Crowe is undoubtedly an extraordinary actor who has managed to interpret the most different and more complex roles to which he has approached, more than with the technique, with the great sensitivity and ability to enter into the depths of the characters, giving them an added value.

His artistic freedom that approached him to the theatre, to the cinema and to the music make him a unique artist, an extraordinary man that goes beyond the recognition of an Oscar.

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