Italian born, Germano
spent his childhood in Venezuela (Turmero, Estado de Aragua), so spanish became
his first language ad then italian followed, he studied french and english
as school subject. He lived in many places: Venezuela, Bracciano, Milano,
Abruzzo, and now in Rome. Previous work included modelling for catwalks, fashion
magazines as well as acting in various tv programs and cinema movies and theater
(together with actors M.Piccolì, P.Petite, Asia Argento, Nicolas Cage,
Penelope Cruz, Irene Papas, John Hurt and directors J.Madden, P.Del Monte,
S.Vicario, J.Aichholzer, F.Cabras). He studied with Bernard Hiller, a Hollywood
teacher and with argentinean Beatrice Bracco in Rome. He also studied directing
at "Professione cinema" with M.Sciarra in Rome. With "Valigie
di cartone" he is at his second directing experience, the first was "La
leggenda del lago" in 2003. He also worked a lead singer for many years,
with a cuban group and as solo singer, working in Germany, France, Italy,
England both in pop and opera music (he sand also with Academy Award winner
Stephen Warbeck).
A project by cultural association OMNIA
script-writer and director Germano Di Mattia
The documentary is a very nostalgic portrait of Italian emigrants, based on
the memories of the italians in the world and about effects of the Italian
emigration. Germano Di Mattia, an extraordinary director at his second film,
portrayed the world of emigrants with great inspiration, sensibility, and
that special Italian exuberance, against the strong and fragile beauty of
Abruzzo and Italy, tracing the history of emigrants from Abruzzo and Italy
before and after World War II, and following them for 50, 60 years... The
filming took place in Abruzzo, the U.S.A., New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany,
Brazil, Venezuela and lasted 15 months. Pictures and interview from Australia,
Belgium, Argentina, South Africa, Great Britain, the U.S.A., New Zealand,
Canada, France, Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, with their
large Italian communities. "Valigie di cartone - the italian dream"
is a mosaic of different generations of italians in the world. The original
motion picture sound track was composed by prominent italian musicians and
employed traditional instruments as guitars, accordion, piano and violins,
becoming an unforgettable, essential part of "Valigie di cartone".