On Instagram, Eva Nestorimake up artist, published the statuette of David di Donatello, the Oscar of Italian cinema. Her husband, Michele Riondino, won her as best leading actor in “Laf Building”, his first work as a director, set at Ilva and which tells a true story of mobbing. And she won it too. «I thank my wife for creating Caterino’s mask», were Riondino’s words from the stage of Teatro 5 in Cinecittà. Out of five nominations, the film won three Davids, in addition to Riondino, Elio Germano for best supporting actor and Diodato for best original song with “La mia terra”.
Eva, how do you feel?
«We are stunned by the affection, the messages from colleagues and the people who were the inspiration: the people of Taranto. Michele and I struggle to realize that it happened. His words towards me were a blow to the heart.”
Elio Germano revealed that he should have played the worker Caterino Lamanna. Then it was decided that her share should go to her husband. Did she agree?
«Caterino could only be him. He has it inside, he just had to get it out. My first thought was to take away his affable air. Instead of his green eyes, I opted for brown lenses to remove depth. But I didn’t succeed. The result was dark, beautifully deep and full eyes. Then I worked on his teeth, to erase his reassuring and genuine smile. I wanted the rottenness to emerge; and so Michele put on a bite, some false teeth, a little dirty from smoke. And I worked on the skin, which had to be experienced, of those who are in contact with the extreme heat of the blast furnace, choosing a burnt texture.”
The story is set in 1997. How is the style influenced by this?
«Caterino is 40 years old, he grew up in the 70s and carries with him the bold air of those years. You can tell by his Freddie Mercury-style mustache and sideburns. In this, the collaboration with Claudia Pallotti, head of the hairdressing department, was fundamental. Although Caterino does not appear pleasant, he takes care of himself and combs his hair. He likes himself and is pleased. Many of our solitudes are contained in him, he seems to have many people around him. Instead, he is alone. He is endearing.”
How long did the makeup take?
«Having no prosthesis, only 45 minutes. Also because times are tight.”
Which scene from «Palazzina Laf» left the biggest impression on you?
«Every time I see Caterino reading the letter-prayer of the employees addressed to the bishop I cry because it tells what the confined are. And then when he invites Rosalba (the actress Marina Limosani), locked in a small room, to dance. She accepts. And in doing so she represents the difficulties we women have in rejecting certain things, not out of cowardice, but out of fear.”
The film involved seven years of preparation including research and meetings.
«For a period we moved to Taranto. On site it was easier to meet the confined. Michele and I talked about it for hours, days, months, years. This film is our third child.”
The costume designer Sergio Ballo (awarded with Daria Calvelli for «Rapito» by Marco Bellocchio) was angry at the choice of being placed «on the stairs, like Wanda Osiris». What do you think?
«We do our job with love and passion. They sent us back a bit and I was sorry. I understand that Theater 5 must be valorised, but an opportunity to stay in front and leave the wings has been missed.”
She defines herself as “proudly Ciociara”. Is she also a bit Tarantino?
“Certain. When I walked around the Old Town, I fell in love with it. And I hope to spend my old age here.”
How did you meet Riondino?
«A friend, Cristiana Vaccaro, introduced us in 2006. We have been together since 2010».
Of your first kiss, her husband declares: «I knew I would never go back. It was a spell.” What did she feel?
“I realized what love was, which had eluded me until I was thirty.”
On social media he posted photos of the wedding with different photos and wrote: «On 13 June 2023 Michele marries the brunette girl he met one evening many years ago; on June 14, 2023 Michele marries his favorite blonde.”
«The first photo concerns the civil ceremony in the Municipality of Noto: I showed up with a brunette wig because, sometimes, Michele asks me to go dark again; the next day, the rite was held by our friend Cristiana.”
How did you become a make up artist?
«I trained at the Altieri Moda e Arte Academy, specializing in cinematographic aesthetics. I’m happy to have started with Cosimo Alemà’s first horror films. Then I did a lot of TV, many video clips, advertisements; as a fiction, “The young Montalbano” (I thank the head of the make-up department, Alessandro D’Anna) and I became head of the make-up department of the series “I delitti del BarLume”. I also thank my assistant on the set of “Palazzina Laf”, Giulia Stronati».
Did your little girls Frida (born in 2014) and Irma (in 2020) follow the Davids on TV?
«They were sleeping. The nanny warned me that Frida went to bed shortly before her father was awarded his prize.”
Will you go on holiday in Puglia?
«An episode for sure, deciding at the last minute. In Taranto there are grandparents and it is our refuge.”
What’s your secret?
«We are respectful and we respect each other. Every day is a gift and a discovery. We don’t get bored, we have fun and encourage us to do better. And we allow ourselves mistakes.”
