What the Hell Am I Doing Here!
Focus on New Italian Directors 2007 / Ma che ci faccio qui! / Italy 2006
Alessio’s disastrous exam results scupper his plans for a fantastic holiday travelling around Europe with his friends. When he tries to catch them up, he lands up practically “around the corner” in a rundown seaside resort. There, in this comedy film, he discovers that, to come to know oneself and to take a step towards maturity, doesn’t only happen on the road…
Synopsis
At the end of his final year at school, Alessio has managed to botch things up big time. His parents come down on him like a ton of bricks, and his planned train trip around Europe with his friends now looks decidedly uncertain. But Alessio doesn’t give up, deciding to catch them up on his scooter. A brief stop on the coast leads to a series of minor catastrophes and Alessio has to work off his transgressions working for Tonino, who owns the local beach. His thoughts are only of escaping, but no sooner does he manage to give him the slip, than he finds Tonino barring his way at his very next fuel stop. And yet, he discovers that, not only Tonino, but his entire crazy family are growing on him and so he tries to help prevent the local authorities from closing down their beach. As he gradually begins to settle into his new surroundings, he goes through all kinds of adventures which ultimately offer him important lessons in life. Alessio learns about sensitivity, patience and the ability to recognise true feelings and values. By the end of the holidays he is more mature than he would have been if he’d travelled halfway around the world. And all this the director presents with light-hearted humour, with the fragrances of the summer, the sea and the long holiday.
About the film
92 min / Color, 35 mm
Director Francesco Amato
/ Screenplay Francesco Amato, Andrea Agnello, Daniela Gambaro, Pierpaolo Piciarelli
/ Dir. of Photography Federico Annicchiarico
/ Music Alberto Caruso
/ Editor Luigi Mearelli
/ Production Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Rai Cinema, Istituto Luce
/ Cast Paolo Sassanelli, Alina Nedelea, Daniele De Angelis, Chiara Nicola, Francesco Brandi
/ Contact Rai Trade, Cinecittà Spa
About the director
Francesco Amato (b. 1978, Turin) began studying art, music and drama at the university of Bologna in 1998. Since 2000 he has made six independent documentaries, focusing on social issues. This is the case with the film Is This My Country? (Questa è la mia terra?, 2003), which describes the lives of foreigners working in Italy and which was critically acclaimed on the domestic film circuit. Amato’s feature film debut What the Hell Am I Doing Here!, despite its indignant title, is an enchanting and cheery holiday yarn about young people for young people.
Contacts
Rai Trade
Via Umberto Novaro 18, 001 95, Rome
Italy
Phone: +39 063 749 8469
Fax: +39 063 751 6222
E-mail: info@raitrade.it
Cinecittà Spa
Via Tuscolana 1055, 00173, Rome
Italy
Phone: +39 067 228 61
Fax: +39 067 222 493
E-mail: a.nucara@cinecitta.it
Guests
Francesco Amato
Film Director, Film Director
Irene Bignardi
Carla Cattani
Film Institution Rep.
Serena Mazzi
Film Institution Rep.
