la lucina

A film by Fabio Badolato & Jonny Costantino


The film is based on the novel La lucina  (Mondadori 2013) written by the author Antonio Moresco. This is an independent low budget film produced by BACO Productions.

The intense work of the directors Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino (BACO) with the support of Jean Bréhat (3B Productions) has finally brought La lucina available for screening and distribution.

The film features Antonio Moresco himself in the role of the main character, a cast of non professional actors and unique remote locations of Basilicata.

"La lucina is a radical and intimate film, is like a mass. I never thought of interpreting this film. I don’t know if only I could play the protagonist. On one thing, however, I have to agree with the directors: perhaps a professional actor would not have worked so well, opposite to a naked person, someone disarmed, without a mask or armature, someone who was not secured by a profession.”  (Antonio Moresco).

 

Plot


Away in the woods a man lives in complete solitude, but a mystery disturbs his loneliness: each night the darkness surrounding the mountain in front his house is suddenly broken by a tiny light. What could it be?
A search begins that will lead the old man to meet a child. Who is really this child? Which relationship ties them and what keeps them suspended between life and death?

Trailer & Film on Demand



Basilicata - Lucania


In the first half of 2015, Fabio and Jonny spent three months looking for locations around Lucania, driving and walking through the Lucanian Apennines and the Pollino National Park, exploring the territory of 13 villages: Aliano, Alianello, Alianello di Sotto , Calvera, Caprarico, Castelsaraceno, Castruonovo of Sant'Andrea, Roccanova, San Chirico Raparo, Senise, Terranova sul Pollino, Sant'Arcangelo.

Sant'Arcangelo (PZ) between tradition and nature


After establishing the first contacts, with the support of the local people and the Basilicata Region, the directors identified in Sant'Arcangelo, in the province of Potenza, the epicenter of the film project. Partly abandoned, the village is perched on top of a hill and its magical atmosphere is amplified by the authenticity of the inhabitants.

Sant’Arcangelo, strategically placed between Potenza, Matera and the Pollino massif, is surrounded by a territory with a special morphological evolution that includes the formation of “calanchi” as result of erosion of clayey rocks


  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

Directed by Badolato & Costantino - BACO


In 2015 they founded BACO, an independent body with its main focus in the production of films and documentaries.

Fabio Badolato is a filmmaker and photographer. Jonny Costantino is a filmmaker and writer. For the sake of their projects they usually both engage in the role of producers.

In 2012 the had a first cinematographic encounter with Antonio Moresco for the realization of the short movie Il firmamento adapted from the homonymous theatrical piece written by Moresco. By the time the idea of making La lucina was mature they could not resist to persuade Moresco to be their actor.


The casting. Fabio and Jonny write in the director's notes:


"One of the biggest challenges was finding the perfect child, someone who had the right appearance and qualities for the role. We decided to conduct our research in local communities near the territories explored during the search for locations in Basilicata. The casting took place thanks to the support and the meeting of several school managers. Consequently we met the children aged between 7 and 10 years. This certainly was one of the most touching moments of the entire production. "

"One day we noticed Giovanni Battista while he was sitting in his class. Faced with the goal, we were immediately struck by its spontaneity as well as impressing us with its sensitivity. A few days later Giovanni was already showing us his acting and improvisational qualities: he was already entering the part. At just 9, Giovanni had grasped the deep meaning of the film. "


  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.

  • La lucina a film by Fabio Badolato and Jonny Costantino. Starring Antonio Morescco. Backstage photo.