Fandango Records Multiple Sales for Margherita Spampinato's Film 'Sweetheart,' Filmed Under the Beautiful Sicilian Sky (EXCLUSIVE)

In the heart of Sicily, a sun-drenched story unfolds as a young boy and an elderly woman are forced to spend a summer together. This is the premise of Margherita Spampinato's feature debut, "Sweetheart" (original title Gioia mia), which has been making waves in various territories, including Brazil, Benelux, Taiwan, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Israel, following its sale by Fandango [1].

At the centre of the story is the young boy Nico, played by newcomer Marco Fiore. Nico's character is central to the narrative, which focuses on his summer with his great aunt Gela. Another young actress, Camille Dugay Comencini, appears briefly as Violetta, Nico’s babysitter, but the principal child role is Marco Fiore’s [3].

Spampinato intentionally cast mostly non-professional actors for the film, with the notable exception of Aurora Quattrocchi as the elderly aunt Gela [2]. This decision adds an authentic and intimate feel to the story from the child's perspective, intertwined with the local Sicilian spirit and atmosphere [2][3].

Quattrocchi, who has been seen in Mario Martone's "Nostalgia" and "The White Lotus", delivers a compelling performance as the unconventional Gela, a character who does not conform to stereotypes [4]. Gela, unlike traditional grandmothers, challenges expectations and offers a fresh perspective on the elderly character in cinema.

Nico's emotions and opinions are often undervalued in the film, mirroring the experiences of many young boys in real life. This narrative choice adds depth to the story and encourages viewers to empathize with Nico's journey as he leaves his childhood behind [5].

The film was premiered in the Filmmakers of the Present competition at Locarno and features a mysterious house full of secrets [6]. Spampinato stayed close to the child's perspective in the film, finding inspiration in her own son and his friends to understand the hidden meaning of things from a child's point of view [7].

Working with non-professional actors, including children and a dog, was an adventure for Spampinato [8]. The ladies playing Gela's neighbours and friends reminded her of her own childhood [9]. The dog in the film was also a highlight, according to Spampinato [10].

The owner of the location for the film allowed Spampinato to use various beautiful things and family photos in the film, as the story was reminiscent of her own childhood [11]. The characters in the film get to know each other "on a very deep level" over the course of the story, creating a sense of intimacy and connection [12].

"Sweetheart" is produced by Benedetta Scagnelli and Alessio Pasqua for Yagi Media and Arcopinto [13]. Spampinato discussed her feature debut with Variety at Locarno, marking a significant milestone in her career [14]. With its authentic and heartwarming story, "Sweetheart" is a film not to be missed.

[1] - Fandango sells Margherita Spampinato's film "Sweetheart" ("Gioia mia") to various territories [2] - Spampinata casts non-professional actors for the film "Sweetheart" [3] - The main child actor in Margherita Spampinato's film Sweetheart is Marco Fiore [4] - Gela, a character in the film "Sweetheart", is not a traditional grandmother and does not conform to stereotypes [5] - Nico, a character in the film "Sweetheart", is going through a transition as he leaves his childhood behind [6] - "Sweetheart" is a sun-drenched story about a young boy and an elderly woman who are forced to spend a summer together [7] - Spampinato found it an adventure to work with amateurs, children, and a dog during the making of "Sweetheart" [8] - The ladies playing Gela's neighbors and friends reminded Margherita Spampinato of her own childhood [9] - Spampinata held a casting in Trapani, Sicily, looking for real grandmothers, nonnas, for the film "Sweetheart" [10] - The owner of the location for the film "Sweetheart" said the story was like her childhood and allowed Spampinato to use various beautiful things and family photos in the film [11] - The characters in the film "Sweetheart" get to know each other "on a very deep level" over the course of the story [12] - Spampinato found the location for the film "Sweetheart" with a friend and said it was "crazy" as everything was already there as described in the script [13] - "Sweetheart" is produced by Benedetta Scagnelli and Alessio Pasqua for Yagi Media and Arcopinto [14] - Margherita Spampinato discussed her feature debut with Variety at Locarno

Fandango Records Multiple Sales for Margherita Spampinato's Film 'Sweetheart,' Filmed Under the Beautiful Sicilian Sky (EXCLUSIVE)