«I was in Los Angeles and I rushed to Rome to support Luxuria’s World Pride. The most beautiful evening of my life”

The gusts of wind crashing into his plane didn’t keep the godmother of the 39th edition of the Lovers Film Festival. Maria Grazia Cucinotta she is happy and very elegant in her black tuxedo, with sequined skirt, signed PAROSH One of the most iconic Italian divas arrives in Turin thanks to her strong friendship with the director Vladimir Luxuria and the support it has always given to the issues LGBTQ+.

Cucinotta, what are the roots of your bond with the director?
«The friendship between Vladimir and I was born many years ago. We were really young and we were both in Rome to work. I immediately became a supporter of her battles for rights, at the time the atmosphere was very heavy. There was a real wall. Which today is crumbling. Finally”.

What is the most important element of the LGBTQ+ battle in your opinion?
«I would like the word love to prevail over everything. Unfortunately we haven’t gotten there yet. It makes me angry to hear about differences and I think they shouldn’t even be highlighted.”

Can we teach a love that is free and without prejudice?
«It should be taught, especially to children. Love is natural and those who love each other, in a moment like this when war is at the center of the debate, should be rewarded. What someone does at home, in his bedroom, is his business. There must be respect. We must express the only condemnation in the face of abuse and violence.”

She has always worked for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. What values ​​do yours match?
«It’s absurd that even today we still have to fight to be able to love who we want to love. Loving is like breathing. A change of mentality is needed that allows us to give positive messages to our children too. What comes to them is very ugly and violent and they are increasingly depressed. Only bad and negative things can be found in the media, which make the desire to hope go away.”

She was also at Luxuria’s side at the World Pride in Rome in 2000.
«I was in Los Angeles and I knew that she was organizing this mega event. At a certain point I receive a phone call: “Maria Grazia, everyone has abandoned me. The mayor and even the councilor backed out.” I remember telling her immediately: “I’m coming”. And I got on the first plane. At that time there was no direct route so I did: Los Angeles-London-Milan Malpensa-Rome.”

What memory do you have of it?
«It was one of the most beautiful and important evenings of my life, because I was proud of all the friends who at that moment were reclaiming years of pain and oppression. I wanted to be beautiful for them, so I wore a light blue Armani dress and went to cut the ribbon.”

Is Luxuria a family friend?
«The first time my daughter Giulia came to our house she was just born. Vladimir gave her a small cow, he ran Cowkiller. Today Giulia is 22 years old and is in the front row for the defense of rights.”

This edition is dedicated to Sandra Milo, who was a great friend of his. Do you have any memories of her?
«We worked together until almost the end. Sandra, first of all, at 90 years old walked in heels better than me. She was an extraordinary and very good woman, she spoke well of everyone, always, even those who spoke badly of her: “they don’t know me enough”, he justified them. She tried to make everyone happy.”

He produced Viola di Mare, a film about the love between two women.
«It was an important experience, cinema can do a lot to convey messages. I remember a screening in Bologna, two ladies came to compliment me and one told me: “I was ready to leave after ten minutes. Instead, this film made me understand the meaning of love.”

The drag queen Tekemaia asked her at the inauguration what she thinks of the touch-ups.
«What mum did is still fine (laughs, ed.). Then, there are mornings that I look at myself and I would like to change everything, but I have decided to remain myself. I am 55 years old and I know that growing old is a privilege. It’s right for young people to play the roles of young people.”