Different twins from Spain and Southern Italy By M. Jmnez
Italian cinema plays an important role in the history of this art, so below we will focus on some of the current leaders who contribute to the continuation of the Italian and international cinematic journey. In addition to analyzing the individuality of the great directors, we will explore in depth the differences and commonalities that the Italian and Spanish styles share in the world of cinema.
First, we focus on the story of Gabriele Salvatores, a Neapolitan who is characterized by his great ability to tell stories full of emotion. He achieved international recognition with “Mediterráneo” (1991), a work for which he won an Oscar for best foreign film. The specialty of this director is undoubtedly that of delving into social and political issues through personal stories full of sensitivity. Comparing his style with that of another great figure of cinema, in this case of Spanish cinema, such as Pedro Almodóvar, we undoubtedly find great similarities as well as two immovable and unique personal stamps.
A strong emotional element is present in the narration of both, noting how both Salvatores and Almodóvar focus on exploring issues of human complexity, which is why they distinguish themselves in the development of deep characters, employing different cinematic elements with which to provoke a visceral reaction in the spectators. On the other hand, despite this similar emotional approach, we find that the Italian narrative is more linear, chronological and conventional, and differs from Almodóvar’s narrative in that it adopts a much bolder approach, presenting temporal leaps and a frame far from the conventional and intertwining so a multitude of textures.
Another point in common between these two directors corresponds to the way they approach sexuality, fearlessly raising issues such as homosexuality, non-traditional relationships or gender identity, thus understanding cinema as a platform to address relevant issues and raise excluded and forgotten realities.
As for the visual aesthetics, Almodóvar presents a striking and colorful style, while Salvatores is inclined towards a more realistic style of the environment and very attentive to detail. Furthermore, we observe that in both directors music plays a fundamental role in the narration. Finally, focusing now on the themes that these directors usually interpret, let’s see how the Italian covers different genres, among which we find comedies, dramas and thrillers, while the Spanish prefers a melodramatic register and often uses elements of black comedy.
We are now talking about Sergio Rubini, an Apulian who leaves his mark on cinema with directing and acting. His films often take place in southern Italy, and in them there is a journey between past and present, exploring the relationship of time and emphasizing the complexity and history of the region.
Comparing him with Almodóvar, we find two issues that both directors have in common. One of them is the use of complex and convoluted scripts, where there are a multitude of storylines that end up intertwining. As for the second question, we’ve talked about how both Almódovar and Rubini have actors appearing in their films on more than one occasion. While the Spanish director has worked on several
times with actresses such as Penélope Cruz and Rossy de Palma, Sergio Rubini has been recurring with the actress Valeria Golino or the actor Michele Placido.
Instead, with Sergio Rubini facing another Spanish director, Alex de la Iglesia, we find the following observations. Both directors share a distinctive visual style, full of vivid colors and flashy, whimsical scenes. Furthermore, according to this daring style, both present strange characters who move in comical or disturbing situations, so it is important for them to use black humor to address serious issues, mixing components of comedy and violence.
As for the differences between the two, we find a more delicate and realistic style of Rubini, opposed to the more excessive and crazy narrative style of Alex. Furthermore, while the Italian director often delves into more dramatic themes from a more formal perspective, the Spaniard often uses a more sarcastic register in his films.
Finally it is the turn of Paolo Sorrentino, another Neapolitan director known internationally for works such as “The great beauty” (2013), who received the Oscar for best foreign film. Thanks to a distinctive visual style, a knack for tackling universal themes and his innovation in storytelling, he has achieved great recognition in the film world. Sorrentino combines elements
of surrealism with a non-linear narrative, in order to develop films that are visually stunning and plagued by philosophical questions.
On the other hand, if we talk about one of the great Spanish directors, Alejandro Amenábar, we realize that he is characterized by working with a multitude of genres and stands out for his attention to creating tense atmospheres and deepening deep themes like morality. When looking for differences between the two directors, an important question is that Sorrentino often reflects the aesthetics of his country’s cinema, influenced by neorealism and Italian art history, while Amenábar develops his films both in Spain and abroad , with great ease of adaptation to different styles and contexts.
As for the themes they focus on, we note that the Italian director is more prone to social, philosophical and existentialist issues. While, on the other hand, Spanish focuses more on history, religion or morals.
However, despite the differences, we observe a clear parallel, which is that the two have the same interest in exploring the human condition, presenting characters that are truly complex and full of depth.
Thus ends this brief analysis of some excellent directors from Southern Italy, such as Gabriele Salvatores, Sergio Rubini and Paolo Sorrentino, who have left an indelible mark on cinema with their unique approach and their ability to tell the world stories full of magic. And, although each of them has its own personal stamp, parallels can be found, as we have seen, with other Spanish directors.
All of those named here have contributed to their respective countries’ impressive film tradition, are filmmakers full of talent, similarities and differences, and have left a great legacy full of success in the film industry.
