‘Pure Hearts’ Director Roberto De Paolis Steps Up Production of His Young Films Shingle (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comNick Vivarelli International CorrespondentItalian director and producer Roberto De Paolis, whose 2017 debut “Pure Hearts” launched from Cannes, is stepping up activity of his Young Films shingle and has completed his follow-up feature, “Princess,” about a young African woman who’s a victim of the sex trade.Described by De Paolis as “the unfiltered story of a young Nigerian who prostitutes herself in Ostia, outside Rome, in a seaside pine forest,” “Princess” (first look image above) features Glory Kevin, a real victim of the sex trade, in the title role plus other non-professional actors with similar backgrounds.
Rounding out the cast are Lino Musella (“The Young Pope”), Salvatore Striano (“Caesar Must Die”) and Maurizio Lombardi (“The New Pope”).
The film, which is produced by Young Films and Indigo Film (“The Great Beauty”) with RAI Cinema, is “an attempt to discover the complexity of the inner conflicts that run through the protagonist,” said De Paolis, adding that it examines the moment when African sex trade victims “realize they can’t do it anymore, and want to quit.”In terms of tone, “Princess” mixes its naturalism “with a fable-like tone, since these women have a strong tendency towards magic,” De Paolis added.
Pic is expected to surface on the fest circuit soon.De Paolis is now stepping up activity of his Rome-based Young Films, which he founded with producer Carla Altieri and now also comprises sales and distribution exec Rachel Greenwood.
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