Canone Inverso

Italy

Synopsis

Who is the violinist who emerges from the shadows of a magic night in Prague and meets a young woman, Costanza, whose eyes conceal "the memory of the world"?

And whose is the music that the violinist plays in a smoke-filled haunt, for Costanza alone, bringing back her lost childhood?

Is she the little girl we see running down the Bark corridor towards the light to the sound of that same music?

That music is an "inverse canon", a musical score that can also be played back to front, and whichhas the power to bring back lost memories.

And it is maybe for this reason that violinist Jeno Varga reminisces over his life with Costanza in this August night of 1968, a memorable date for Czechoslovakia and for the whole world.

Jeno teils her of when, as a child, he played the violin without knowing how to read music, comforting the pigs an their way to the slaughter house, surprising his mother who is reminded of the man she'd loved and who had left her that music, that violin, that child and nothing else.

Jeno teils her of Sophie, a beautiful, famous pianist, whom he seduces, years later, with his music and his talent.

Jeno teils her of the "Collegium Musicum" which he had the privilege of attending, having won a scholarship, and where he meets and befriends David Blau, who willturn out to be much more than just a friend...

And he teils her of that last concert in Prague, where Jeno, Sophie and David's destinies cross and separate in the narre of a passion which overcomes all obstacles, all sacrifices, that reaches beyond life itsel.

The tale comes to an end. But by returning to the scenes he's evoked, the scenes of a long lost happiness, Costanza will discover that the music she heard as a child wasn't just in her memory, but a seal and proof of an identity unknown to her up to now...

Synopsis

Born in Milan an 1 May 1955 as the son of Maureen O'Hara and Ugo Tognazzi, Ricky Tognazzi went to primary school in Milan, then moved to England where he went to school for six years. He obtained his high school diploma in Rome at the Istituto di Stato per la Cinematografia e la Televisione and enrolled at the University of Bologna, reading Arts and at the same time began to work as assistant director for Pupi Avati, Nanni Loy, Comencini, Tinto Brass, Marcb Vicario, Maurizio Ponzi, Sergio Leone, Ugo Tognazzi and others.

His directing debut was with the episode FERNANDA from the six-episode series PIAZZA NAVONA, produced by Ettore Scola. His first film, PICCOLI EQUIVOCI, adapted from the play by Claudio Bigagli, was selected for the Quinzaine des realisateurs in Cannes in 1989 and won the David di Donatello award, the Ciak d'Oro and the Nastro d'Argento for Best First Film.
His second film was ULTRA, which won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for Best Director in 1991, three David di Donatello, amongst which Best Direction and three European "Felix" Film Awards.

In 1993 he directed LA SCORTA, a film that gained critical and public acclaim, which entered the Cannes Festival in 1993, was sold throughout the world and won five David di Donatello awards.

As well as directing, he has pursued his acting career. Amongst the films he's played in are: QUALCOSA DI BIONDO, by Maurizio Ponzi, CARUSO PASCOSKI by Francesco Nuti, Giuliano Montaldo's TEMPO DI UCCIDERE together with Giancarlo Giannini and Nicolas Cage, LA FAMIGLIA by Ettore Scola and UNA STORIA SEMPLICE by Emidio Greco.
In 1994 he played one of the lead roles in MANIACI SENTIMENTALI with Barbara De Rossi and Alessandro Benvenuti, directed by Simona Izzo. With Simona Izzo he was then co-protagonist of the comedy MUGUGNI MUGUGNI directed by Marco Mattolini which opened the theatre season at the Teatro Parioli in Rome.
In 1996 he directed VITE STROZZATE for which he also wrote the screenplay.
In 1996 he was executive producer with Liliana D'Amico of the film CAMERE DA LETTO, directed by Simona Izzo in which he played a leading role together with Diego Abatantuono, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Giobbe Covatta, Giupy Izzo. In 1997 he directed the stage play ART in which he played a leading role together with Giobbe Covatta and Paolo Graziosi.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Ricky Tognazzi

Written by: Graziano Diana, Simona Izzo, Ricky Tognazzi

Produced by: Mario & Vittorio Cecchi Gori

Cinematography: Fabio Cianchetti

Editing: Giancarla Simoncelli

Production Design: Francesco Bronzi

Costume Design: Alfonsina Lettieri

Original Score: Ennio Morricone

Cast: Hans Matheson (Jeno Varga), Melanie Thierry (Sophie Levi), Gabriel Byrne (the violinist)

Nominations and Awards

  • Feature Film Selection 2000