A complaint, albeit riddled with irony. An autobiographical story that tells of “digital bullying”, “aesthetic dictatorship” and body shaming and hits the audience like a punch in the stomach: with Unfitting (Inadequate), a much-lauded short film Rome Festival, Giovanna Mezzogiorno he made his directorial debut. And she decides to talk about the marginalization she suffered when, after gaining 20 kilos after the pregnancy of her twins Leone and Zeno, now 12 years old, she was excluded from the cinema despite her enormous talent, but only, because it was “inadequate” to the prevailing aesthetic standards.
INSIGHTS
Film Festival, look at today’s testimonies: Luisa Ranieri Diva (10), Carolina Crescentini Morticia (5), Alda D’Eusanio without a voice
Born from an idea by Silvia Grilli, director of the weekly newspaper Grazia, (“after hearing Giovanna’s stories, I thought that an interview wasn’t enough,” she explains), produced by Manuela Cacciamani in collaboration with Grazia and Bulgari, the short film starring Carolina Crescentini in the role of an actress who is ostracized because of her weight gain.
Next to her are Ambra Angiolini, Massimiliano Caiazzo, Fabio Volo, Marco Bonini and the agent Moira Mazzantini. Giovanna, 49 years old, with a slim body and very lively mood, with film and theater performances, talks about the pain she experienced and her rebirth.
Does the short film represent her revenge on those who pushed her aside because of the extra kilos?
“No, I’m not vindictive. I wanted to share my story, which is similar to that of many other women who are punished for not being physically perfect. I, almost 50 years old, was very sick. But for a girl, this pressure can be devastating.
Why did you decide to lose weight?
«Because unfortunately I allow myself to be influenced by my environment and by society. I went crazy. So I embarked on a massive weight loss journey that had serious health consequences. It was a weakness that I regret. In the end they managed to make me lose twenty kilos, but at what cost…”
Did you expect the cinema to turn its back on you?
“Absolutely not. I had gained weight through my own fault; after the birth of the twins, I let myself go and neglected physical activity. But I was amazed at the attitude of those around me.”
Was anyone near you?
“No one except the doctors who looked after me. Not even that actor who I thought was a brother, but who vanished into thin air when the cinema started tuning me out and spreading unfounded legends about me: she’s sick, she’ll never get back in shape… not even once a cyst on my eye that I have was shown on a TV show to be used to incite evil against me.
Didn’t she also get support from other women?
“Are we kidding? Women were much crueler than men. There is no solidarity among women. It is a slogan that we say because it is cool, that we flaunt because it evokes the atmosphere of the time.”
But haven’t women made progress in freeing themselves from the constraints of society?
“Not yet. They are the first slaves of the aesthetic dictatorship, which demands perfection by the age of 80.”
In the short version he doesn’t mention any names, why?
“I haven’t done them yet. But I know each one after another has ridiculed, discriminated and insulted me. In the future I might change my mind… They must be uncomfortable in their chairs.
Have your children seen the short film?
“Yes, I showed it to them too so that they would know not to dare make comments about the girls’ looks. Now they’re worried about me being fed. And when I eat, I do it for them too.”
What gave you the strength to start over?
“My spirit of resistance, which has saved me in all difficult trials of life. I have always led with my head held high, I am a generous actress and I have brought home excellent results. You didn’t let me work because I gained weight? Too bad for them.”
Why are there moments of irony in the short film?
“Even in the most difficult moments, you shouldn’t feel sorry for yourself.”