Private Project

Close to the Word

Father Ruggero is a charismatic priest from the north who works in a small parish in the south of Italy. He lives with the sweet and maternal maid. Rita and takes care of a sacristan called Luciano, an orphan who lives near the parish and
is the first one to go to church in the morning, taking care of everything. For years, Father Ruggero has been revered as a wise shepherd of God for the whole community and is considered by many to be a holy man, a gentle, humble and discreet person. Father Ruggero always felt that love could save the world and he tried to teach this immortal sentiment
to the many people he met during the last days of his human mission in the Heart of Jesus.
the same day, Father Ruggero retired.

  • Luca Guardabascio
    Director
    Credo in un solo Padre, Andrea Doria: Are the passengers saved? , Inseguito
  • Luca Guardabascio
    Writer
    Credo in un solo Padre, Per averci creduto, Inseguito
  • Lino Isoldi
    Producer
  • Luca Guardabascio
    Producer
    Inseguito, Addio Notte Bianca
  • Fabio Mazzari
    Key Cast
    "Father Ruggero"
    Vivere, Stilema
  • Anna Rita Del Piano
    Key Cast
    "Rita "
    Che bella giornata, L'uomo delle stelle, Credo in un solo Padre
  • Don Most
    Key Cast
    "Mr Donald Saddest"
    Happy Days, Edtv, Stewardess School
  • Clayton Norcross
    Key Cast
    "Time Manager"
    The bold and the beatiful, Jag, Hawaii Five O, Skin of lawyer
  • Claudio Madia
    Key Cast
    "Captain Arthur Spiegel"
    L'albero azzurro, Lo scorzamauriello, Credo in un solo Padre
  • Francesco Baccini
    Key Cast
    "Il Baccio"
    Credo in solo Padre, Zoé, Goffredo e l'Italia chiamò
  • Kevin Capece
    Key Cast
    "Luciano"
    Skin of a lawyer, Andrea Doria: Are the passengers saved? . Lola in punta d'ali
  • Morlo War
    Key Cast
    "Salim Naiff"
    Campo Thiaroye
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Social
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 26 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 23, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    189,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital plus Red plus Panasonic
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • https://www.wetheitalians.com/art-heritage-new-york/premio-colombo-2024-luca-guardabascio
    New York
    Italy
    October 11, 2024
    North American Premier
    Colombo Award 2024
Distribution Information
  • Luca Guardabascio
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Luca Guardabascio

Director and writer for film and television. Mr. Guardabascio has made documentaries, feature
films, and television shows created especially for Rai 2 (Rai Night). Since 2011 he taught the history of Italy through Italian cinema often as a Visiting Scholar and part time Professor at Robert Morris University in Moontownship in Pennsylvania and other University in Us.
In Italy he teaches mainly in the High School and in School of Cinema and Media.
The main fields of interest are Cinema, History, World Communication, Media and New Media
Society, Anthropology, Litterature, Music.

He invent the genre "Marron" (a blend of yellow and noir) with the first feature film "Inseguito-
Pursued" (2002) starring Fabio Testi and short stories, "Uomini Qualsiasi e Giorni Qualunque". Mr.
Guardabascio wrote, directed and produced two feature films: the thriller "Inseguito" (2002) and the
drama "Addio Notte Bianca " (2005), the two seasons of the TV drama "Task Force" (2009-2011)
on climate change filmed in thirty-two countries.
Mr. Guardabascio has written and directed a number of short films and historical, anthropological,
social documentaries, such as "Where to rest Your feet" on the mystical Angela Volpini, and
"Capodarco: Before the Future" on the community founded by Don Franco Monterubbianesi.

He has published 12 novels and 4 essays, including some on Cinema and Litterature (Alberto
Moravia, Mario Soldati, Antonio Pietrangeli, Vittorio De Sica… ) the publishing successes "My
Own! Una guerra privata" (2005) published by Laco, and "Ancora un’Estate o un’Estate Ancora”
(2011 Il Violino Edizioni, third printing.) In 2014, Mr. Guardabascio has published “Pietre
sull’Oceano”. La storia di Giovanni Esposito e Joe Petrosino (Historica Editions at Mondadori).
The novel, best seller with 5 edition printed, explores Italian emigration to America from the
Unification of Italy (1861) until the earthquake in Irpina of November 23 1980. It was presented in
several American cities, cultural center, universities and has an introduction by David Chase, the
creator of the Sopranos.
Mr Guardabascio is working on 2 trilogies on the migration’s topic. The second of the six books “In
Laos” talk about the new Italian migration after the new world crisis (2007) and it will be printed in
December 2021. He has a contract with the publisher company Newton Compton to publish other
3 books. In 2015, Mr. Guardabascio has written and directed Lola: In Punta D’ali, about the dancer
Lola D'Arienzo, who suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for twenty five years. Featured in the short
film are Enzo De Caro and Pino D’Aloia. In 2015 start the production of “Are the passengers
saved?” Docu –Film on Andrea Doria’s incident set in 1956 with notable guest actors (Fabio
Mazzari, Don Most, Giordano Petri, Lucia Bendia, Valerio Massimo Manfredi) and produced by
Pierette Domenica Simpson a producer and survivor. In fall 2016 will be distribuited in US and
Italy.
In 2017 his documentary on “Andrea Doria” represented the hig quality of Italian movies at the
Losangeles Italia, Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
In June 2018 he started the movie “Credo in un solo Padre” about a double domestic violence based
on Ferruccio Tuozzo’s novel with the actors Massimo Bonetti, Flavio Bucci, Anna Rita Del Piano,
Giordano Petri, Giordano Petri and several guest stars. The feature film is distributed in spring
2021. The movie has several endorsements by the government and it is considered a movie of
Cultural and Nation interest and won 9 international awards.
In 2019 he has written and directed the musical “Carlo Levi, a Sud di Eboli” based on the book
Christ stopped in Eboli by Carlo Levi. The musical will rapresent Italy in Matera 2019.
Actually is filming in Italy “Without Making any noise” a feature film with neorealism touch that
touch several social apect from drugs, discrimination, climate change, childhood, migration. His
projects for the next future are a feature film about the basketball legend Hank Luisetti, the movie is
based on the bestseller book by Mike De Lucia Madness. A feature tv movie with on the tragedy of
the Andrea Doria written with the author Pierette Domenica Simpson that will have the actor
Vincent Spano the cast. The movie has several endorsements by the government and it will considered a movie of Cultural and Nation interest. In 2023-2024 his best seller book “L’amico
speciale” will be taken into consideration as mini-series for Italian tv. In 2021 He publishes
Schubert’s Gospel, that tell the story of the romantic and melancholic composer Franz Schubert
In 2021 he spread up the Manifesto of Social Cinema99 of which he is Founder, a social movement
that take Liberal Arsts and Cinema as method to have a better society thanks to the right education
of Media (and social Media) https://you-ng.it/2021/04/14/luca-guardabascio-un-cinema-sociale-e-
possibile-autointervista-allautore/
The goal of Cinema Scoiale99 is Entertain, Educate and Train new generation of artist and
professional workers that will represent the better part of our Society.
https://www.facebook.com/cinemasociale99.
His latest short film Per averci creduto, another controversial topic against domestic violence it is
inspired by the book and the story by Dr. Sandra Pagliuca, starring Massimo Bonetti and Chiara
Primavesi.
Actually is on the Documentary about Prison and Asylum titled Faceless that tell the true story of
the Soccer Champion Fabrizio Maiello.
https://ecodellojonio.it/articoli/territorio/2022/07/fabrizio-maiello-da-ex-detenuto-a-protagonista-di-
un-film-dal-profondo-messaggio-sociale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oknFn0Kn4-s&feature=youtu.be
He was the first fiction director to teach and film a fiction movie in south Congo in 2023.
In 2022 Mr Guardabascio write, produce and direct Vicino al Verbo the first production target by
Cinema Sociale99 a Feature Film with strong social issues (racism, intolerance, poverty,
incommunication, migration, disability, dementia). The movie has a notable cast Fabio Mazzari,
Anna Rita Del Piano, Morlo War, Kevin Capece, Don Most (the Ralph Malph of Happy Days),
Francesco Baccini, Claudio Madia and Clayton Norcross. The film will be released in 2024 with an
international tour before the Tv streaming.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15595576/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_3
In 2024 he directed the reality show: Models Runway Academy.
Luca Guardabascio has won numerous international awards as director and author. Most recently
the prestigious Books for Peace 2022 (an Unicef-Unesco award) for cinematographic and narrative
merits and for social commitments.
In fall 2024 he will be awarded with the Columbus Internazional Award in Brooklin thanks to the
Federazione Associazione Campane USA and he will start a Tour with his last movie Vicino Al
Verbo – Close to the Word.

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