Nov. 28 - "Itaker" in Germany is a play on words - between Italy and Ithaca - that refers to the concept of globetrotting, vagabond. More generally, it means "italianacci" and indicates a bias against the Italian people, in particular those emigrants in the countries of central and northern Italy in the sixties. Today, however, "Itaker" becomes a film by Toni Trupia. From Agrigento, born in 1979, Trupia graduated from the experimental center of Cinematography. The presentation of his film, to be released in Italian cinemas November 29 distributed by Cinecittà Luce, was held in Rome. This is Trupia’s second feature film, and it was filmed in Trentino in collaboration with the Trentino Film Commission. The actors are: Francesco Scianna, Titian Talarico (for the first time on screen), Monica Birladeanu and Nicola Nocella, with a cameo by Michele Placido, (creator and writer of the film subject). "Itaker" tells Peter’s story (Titian Tallarico), who left his country in Trentino to search for his emigrated father.
Benito (Francesco Scianna), a penniless Italian, accompanies Peter and, despite himself, thanks to Peter, he will discover what it means to be a father. Slowly, in the background of this story, the world of Italian emigrants takes shape. "It’s a shame that Italian Film Festivals thought the film to be too “classic” – says Michele Placido – But we will take it to Berlin nonetheless, to commemorate 60 years of Italian emigration.”

THE UNIVERSAL QUEST FOR PATERNITY
Director Toni Trupia was inspired by the collection of letters by Robert Hall and Joan Massariello Merzagora "Radio Cologne" (Utet). Trupia, in fact, says he was inspired also by his personal history: "I'm Sicilian, part of my family went to Belgium and I have vivid memories of this as a boy. My family had acquired a certain level of wealth but we still lived in isolation. For me, while writing this film with Placido and Leonardo Marini, it was critical to insert the universal theme of the search for paternity, an issue that binds particularly well with migration and the quest for one’s roots." The film tells the story of the second wave of emigration during the Italian boom years: "A historical event less known than the first post-war phenomenon" said Placido and Trupia at the press conference for the film. "In the 60s, people migrated with a short-term perspective, enough to make enough money to buy a fridge back home, not staying abroad 4/5 years.” "Itaker", shot in Trentino, with the help of Trentino Film Commission, and in Romania, is produced in collaboration with Rai Cinema and will be presented around the country: "I thought – concluded Placido - that we should bring this film in different cities, being present as a way to support it."