Two Parts Italy

For a couple of months this spring Lucca became a film set. All through town movie crews, and stars from both Hollywood and Italy, filmed a new Peter Greenaway film. The names of the American film stars may be familiar - Dustin Hoffman and Helen Hunt. Both spent time in Lucca before and during filming and star sightings became quite the topic of conversation around town. And while I did not have any close encounters with the actors, the word was that they were both gracious and friendly, patiently posing for photos with locals and tourists alike.

(Photo below of Dustin Hoffmann, and his serious looking bodyguard, courtesy of a friend)

The title of the film is not yet final, originally the script was titled Lucca Mortis, but the working title during filming was Tower Stories. Two towers play a central role in the story - the Twin Towers in NY (the film is set just after their collapse) and Lucca’s famous Torre Guinigi.

According to an interview given by the director, Hoffman’s character, Jacob, is an elderly man who returns to Lucca after the 911 attacks in New York. His journey Lucca, where his grandmother was born, is in search of his family roots. Confronting his own death, an inevitability of aging, is a major theme of the film.

Having absolutely no experience in film making, acting, or anything Hollywood, the part I found fascinating was the process of filming.

One day, I watched as crews hung laundry along via del Fosso. As for why the laundry was arranged by color - one line of blue boxers, one of yellow shirts, one of white long johns, etc - I guess we will have to see the film to figure this out.

One thing I learned was just how much equipment, and how many trucks, were needed for film making. There were trucks for lighting, trucks with electrical equipment, costume trucks, and food trucks to feed the crew. Lucca is a very small town and it was filled with all the movie making paraphernalia.

Another movie making requirement is the use of extras. Months before filming started a call for extras went out. There were a lot of people interested. Was it a chance for fame or because the daily pay was good?

One rainy day saw a long line of locals waiting for a chance to sign up to participate.

Not all the extras were adults - how cute are these child extras dressed in school girl costumes with their mammas standing watch ? It will be fun to watch for their appearance in the final film.

In this photo the real statue is on the left, the movie madonna on the right.

Lucca has a famous statue of a madonna surrounded by a halo of stars - the Madonna lo Stellario. Apparently it was not in a perfect position for the film makers as they created a temporary one of their own. I think the original is best!

The movie finished most of the filming in May, but in late June / early July the crew returned to Lucca to film a few more scenes as well as some drone shots over the city. Drones are scheduled to film along Via Guinigi in the next few days. I wonder if the palazzo where my apartment is located, currently all wrapped in scaffolding for a roof replacement, will make the final cut?

A photo from a local news story shows a scene filmed just down the street from my apartment.

The movie should reach theaters sometime in 2025. Here’s hoping that Lucca will be the site of the premier!