Matera with its wonderful stones, the warm white that changes color with the sun, the maze of alleys to be discovered … we have just admired the provincial capital Lucanian in the fourth season of Imma Tatarani – Deputy Prosecutor. And soon we will see him again in the sequel of the very talked about film The Passion of Christ. Mel Gibson will in fact return to Italy soon and in Basilicata for the filming de The resurrection (temporary title), which should arrive on the big screen in 2026.
There Basilicataa mysterious region and perhaps among the least known in Italy, has a treasure chest that often set and cinema have brought to light.
“” I would like to go to the Golgotha ”or” Let’s go to Imma Tatarani’s house “and maybe even at” Lunch in the Francis Ford Coppola resort “and to close the day to get lost among the hairpin bends on the sea where he darted the Aston Martin of James Bond. Put one day in Basilicata, walking in the many places that have been chosen by cinema or television and you will hear expressions such as those mentioned above, “he tells us Margherita Gina Romaniellopresident of the Lucana Film Commission. «We arrive to visit the places that animated the stories that amused us, excited, involved. And to feel a little substitute prosecutor, an established director, or the most famous secret agent in the world. We are Basilicata, land of storiesland of cinema, we are the Lucana Film Commission, which works because the sacred fire of the seventh art arda and shine more and more and higher “.
Romaniello, proudly proud of his land, is the first woman president of the Lucana Film Commission, who in time and for the future has created several initiatives to enhance the natural link of Basilicata with cinema and TV. “For example, we are about to start a Movie Tour with directors and producers», He explains. «It will be a sort of trip to discover the lesser known places than Basilicata with stops and meetings with experts, narrators, characters and custodians of stories. Hoping that each stage reveals the heart of a next story. To be set in our land and to be transported by the most magical manufacturer of dreams that is cinema ».
Waiting for new stories set between calanche, rock inhabited and gravine, here are 10 beautiful films, to be seen or reviewed, set in Basilicata.
1) Basilicata Coast to Coast (2010) by Rocco Papaleo
Picaresque Road Movie following a shrewd musical group, it is a real declaration of love on his land by Rocco PapaleoLucano DOC, in his debut in directing. Next to him Paolo Briguglia, Alessandro Gassmann, Max Gazzè and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.
Nice and successful comedy, moves on foot from Marate to Scanzano Jonicocrossing Basilicata from the Tyrrhenian coast to the Ionian one.
2) I’m not afraid (2003) by Gabriele Salvatores
From the novel of the same name by Niccolò Ammaniti, I’m not afraid It is a film about the loss of childhood. In the sunny summer of 1978, in a remote campaign in southern Italy, a boy finds his peer, hungry, hidden in a hole dug between the expanses of wheat.
Two David di Donatello Won, including better photography, which enhances the true nature of the places. Among the locations the Murgia And Melfi.
3) Christ stopped in Eboli (1979) by Francesco Rosi
From the masterpiece book by Carlo Levi, the film that boasts the screenplay for Tonino Guerra, Raffaele La Capria and Rosi himself. Gian Maria Volonté He plays the protagonist, a painter condemned by the fascist dictatorship to the confinement in Eboli, a country of southern Italy forgotten by God. There is what was then considered the “shame of Italy”, Matera, who from that complaint was the subject of a redevelopment project that led her to be the current jewel.
In the cast also the Greek actress Irene Papas.
The filming of the film took place mostly in Basilicata, among the villages of Aliano And Crackfascinating ghost town Materano.
4) No time to die (2021) by Carly Fukunaga
Matera opens No time to diethe twenty -fifth film about James Bond, with its breathtaking beauty. For its narrow and labyrinthine roads, the Aston Martin DB5 of the secret agent interpreted by Daniel Craig.
It is certainly not the most successful film of the 007 saga, long and sentimental, enjoyable but not so engaging, but has a beautiful dose of adrenaline in the Italian ground.
5) The basilischi (1963) by Lina Wertmüller
The basilischi It is a fresco of life in southern Italy, in a village of the Apulian province, Minervino Murge, on the trail of some listless young people, imbued with a visceral apathy, blocked in the same monotonous speeches.
It is the debut of Lina Wertmüller, who would soon become the first woman nominated for the Oscar as the best director.
Among the locations also the Potenino country San Gervasio Palace.
6) The Gospel according to Matteo (1964) by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Again Materadug in the rock, becomes the Jerusalem of Pasolini’s iconic film. The director’s writer re -proposes the Gospel of Matteo of the life of Jesus Christ, from the Annunciation to the Resurrection.
He was Lion d’Argento – Jury Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival.
7) The Passion of Christ (2004) by Mel Gibson
Materafascinating and biblical in its rocking architecture, is still the scenario of the labors of Jesus in the discussed colossal of Gibson, brutal and extreme.
Among the outdoor locations too Crackwhich stands out desolate and poetic on the Lucan Apennines.
8) Maria Maddalena (2018) by Garth Davis
Still biblical stories, on arid and intriguing territories. This time the story of Maria Maddalena is focused, in a sincere and human portrait of one of the most enigmatic spiritual figures. Interprets it with Pathos Rooney Maraethereal and bright, next to a Joaquin Phoenix who is a tormented Jesus.
Among the locations there is obviously Matera.
9) Three brothers (1981) by Francesco Rosi
Still Rosi, with his elegant and pungent style, who scripts together with Tonino Guerra inspired by the story The third child by Platonov.
The three brothers of the title are interpreted by Philippe Noiret, Michele Placido and Vittorio Mezzogiornorespectively a magistrate, a worker, a teacher. When they find themselves for the mother’s funeral, to the court of the elderly father (Charles Vanel), a clash of generations opens, while on the background of movement the gloomy of the struggles of the struggles since the beginning of the 80s.
Five David di Donatello (including best direction and screenplay) and an Oscar nomination. Among the locations there are Matera and the beach of Nova Siri.
10) Wonder Woman (2017) by Patty Jenkins
Themyscira, the island of warrior women who gave birth to Princess Diana, future Wonder Woman, has Italian features. It was identified with the Amalfi coast, mostly, but also with Lucanian locations such as the inevitable Matera and the towering Malconsiglio Castle.
First film starring a superheroes directed by a woman, Wonder Woman The beautiful Gal Gadot has as its protagonist. It was a critical and public success.
