A film will be dedicated to the story of Pasquale Rotondi. Shooting kicks off in the Marche region

Shooting has begun in the Marche region of Pasquale Rotondi. An Italian Hero, a second feature by director and screenwriter Roberto Dordit. Playing Pasquale Rotondi (Arpino, 1909 - Rome, 1991) superintendent of the Marche region duringOperation Salvage organized by Minister of Education Bottai for the purpose of hiding all the most important works of art in Montefeltro during World War II, will be Simone Liberati (Cuori Puri, La profezia dell’armadillo, Chiamami ancora amore). The role of his wife Zea Bernardini is given to Lia Grieco (Luna nera, Luna Park), while Antonio Di Matteo (Buongiorno Notte, Malerba, Stranizza d’amuri) will play Rotondi’s driver. Also in the cast is Rebecca Liberati as the nanny of Pasquale Rotondi’s daughters played by Greta Montanari and Giorgia Montanari. Written by the director himself together with Claudio Pallottini, and produced by Mariella Li Sacchi and Amedeo Letizia for Qualityfilm, the film’s sets are by Maurizio Carraro, costumes by Metella Raboni. The director of photography is Claudio Zamarion.

Filming will last five weeks and will take place in the Marche region in Urbino, Carpegna, Sassocorvaro, Sant’Angelo in Vado and the Republic of San Marino.

Synopsis

Who are the Italian “Monuments Men,” those who saved works of art during World War II? The most representative is Pasquale Rotondi, Superintendent of the Galleries and Works of Art of the Marches since 1939. Rotondi was commissioned by Education Minister Bottai to transport and store a large number of works in the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino, which was considered safe because of its decentralized location, but he realized that the city could be a military target because of an Air Force arsenal hidden in a tunnel in an Urbino hillside. So he deposited the works of the Ducal Palace, churches and civic museums of the Marche in the fortress of Sassocorvaro and the Palace of the Princes of Carpegna. So perfect were they that treasures from the Marche arrived in those coffers, as well as those from Venice, Milan, and Rome to be protected from bombing.

After September 8, 1943, the Ministry no longer exists: it will be transferred to the North, under the Social Republic, while Bottai will be sought by the Germans to be executed.

The infamous Kunstschutz, a department commanded by the SS, is tasked to smuggle even in Italy the works requested by Hitler and Göring. Pasquale Rotondi finds himself alone, with no means and no authority to defend the works from German raids. The only ones to help him are his wife Zea and driver Augusto, plus a few janitors and carabinieri, guarding the largest concentration of artworks ever accumulated in centuries of history. The small group becomes the little Brancaleone army that must play cunningly to fool the SS on the trail of the treasure...

A film will be dedicated to the story of Pasquale Rotondi. Shooting kicks off in the Marche region

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.