“Primavera,” a film about Antonio Vivaldi, the Italian Baroque composer and violinist who penned “The Four Seasons,” has been bought by a flurry of major distributors.
Represented by Memento International, the movie shot in Rome and Venice, and marks the feature debut of Damiano Michieletto, a leading opera director.
Warner Bros. will release the movie in Italy while Diaphana Distribution will release it in France. The pre-sales closed by Memento International are Benelux (Cineart), Germany and Austria (X Verleih), Spain (A Contracorriente Films), Switzerland (Frenetic) and Poland (M2 Films). Several other territories are in negotiations.
“Primavera” was penned by Ludovica Rampoldi, the award-winning screenwriter of movies such as “The Traitor” and “Gomorrah – the series,” among others. The script is loosely adapted from Tiziano Scarpa’s critically acclaimed novel “Stabat Mater.”
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Set in 18th century Venice, “Primavera” follows Cecilia, a 20-year-old violin virtuoso who lives at the Pièta orphanage. Despite her talent, Cecilia remains confined within the orphanage, knowing that marriage is the only way out. Yet, her life takes a turn after she meets Antonio Vivaldi, a brilliant and ambitious composer who becomes the new violin teacher. Guided by Vivaldi and his music, Cecilia “finds the strength to challenge the destiny that once seemed inevitable,” reads the synopsis. “Primavera” stars Tecla Insolia (“The Art of Joy”) as Cecilia and Michele Riondino (“Palazzina Laf,” “Worldly Girl”) as Vivaldi.
Michieletto has collaborated with major Italian and international opera houses, from Teatro alla Scala in Milan to the Royal Opera House in London, and from Teatro La Fenice in Venice to the Staatsoper in Berlin, as well as the Opéra Bastille in Paris.
The stellar key crew includes cinematographer Daria D’Antonio (“The Hand of God,” “Parthenope”), editor Walter Fasano (“Call me by your name,” “Suspiria”), composer Fabio Massimo Capogrosso (“Kidnapped”), production designer Gaspare De Pascali (“Sicilian Letters”) and costume designer Maria Rita Barbera (“The Son’s room”).
Primavera is a Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia and Indigo Film production (“La Grande Belleza” and “Youth” by Paolo Sorrentino), in co-production with Moana Films. The movie received the backing of the fund Regione Lazio PR FESR and the Fondazione Veneto Film Commission.