THE GOLDEN CITY
The life of an impoverished Italian family of farmers is turned upside down, when their sibling Salvatore discovers one of their chickens begins uncharacteristically laying eggs of pure gold.
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FRANCESCO GIANNINIDirectorHALL (2020)
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DERRICK ADAMSWriterHALL (2020)
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FRANCESCO GIANNINIWriterHALL (2020)
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CRISTIANO SEBASTIANELLIProducerNESSUN NOME NEI TITOLI DI CODA (2019)
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FRANCESCA CIMOLAIProducerBEYOND MOVING (2019)
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FRANCESCO GIANNINIProducerHALL(2020)
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FRANCESCO GRILLOKey Cast"SALVO"MOZART IN THE JUNGLE (2016)
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MARIA COSTANZA NAPOLIKey Cast"AURORA"
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COSTANTINNO COMITOKey Cast"NICOLA"ZEROZEROZERO (2019)
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GIULIA PALMISANOKey Cast"MARIA"LIBERI DI SCEGLIERE (2019)
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SALVATORE RINO RODIOKey Cast"PAWN SHOP CLERK"LA NOTTE E' PICCOLA PER NOI (2016)
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FRANCO BARILLAROKey Cast"SARTO"
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama
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Runtime:20 minutes 32 seconds
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Completion Date:February 2, 2022
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Italy
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Language:Italian
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Francesco Giannini is an Italian Canadian filmmaker His debut short film, "The Race of Life," was included within the Cannes Short Corner in 2012. Soon after, "The Prince," was officially selected at the Milan International Film Festival. His dystopian short film "The Flare" debuted to great critical acclaim at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
The latest film directed by Francesco is a psychological thriller "The Hall," distributed in North America, England, Germany, Japan Australia and Latin America
The story of Città d'oro is based on Aesop's fable and represents the tale that since I was a child has sparked a love of storytelling in me. A version that was told to me by my dad and set in Santa Caterina dello Ionio, Calabria. It is a story that has always stuck with me but only with the passing of years have I been able to perceive all the nuances and symbolism in it. Indeed, behind an apparently simple narrative lie profound metaphors about the human mind's constant struggle between what we are and what we would like to become, between generosity and avarice, between simplicity and lust, between habit and change.
This last aspect in particular is the one I dwelt on most in developing the film's subject. The main character of the film, Salvatore, is very much inspired by my father Nicola. Originally from Calabria, he moved to Canada in 1970 at the age' of 17. Canada for my father represented Salvatore's "golden goose." In Canada he saw the opportunity' for a better future for himself and the family he wanted to build.
On such thinking aligns the genre of City of Gold, which is a combination of realism and science fiction, in the style of internationally acclaimed films like "Big Fish."
The shift from having nothing, to having everything and more is the cultural contrast that encapsulates two very distinct ways of living life.
Capturing these strong cultural differences and the contrast between a lifestyle typical of a large Canadian metropolis and the one my ancestors lived while spending a simple life in a small Calabrian hamlet is essential in respect for my roots and to show the true relevance of history.