Sicilian Letters
Sicilian Letters (Sicilian: Iddu – L'ultimo padrino, lit. 'He – The Last Godfather') is a 2024 crime drama film written and directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza. The film stars Elio Germano as Sicilian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro and Toni Servillo as Catello, an operative in the Italian secret service.[2]
The film premiered on 5 September 2024 at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion. It was released theatrically in Italy on 10 October 2024 by 01 Distribution and in France on 16 April 2025 by Les Films du Losange.
Premise
In the early 2000s, the embattled politician Catello seeks to revive his career by helping the Secret Service track down the last known Cosa Nostra boss, Matteo Messina Denaro, whom Catello has known his entire life. The two begin corresponding via letters in a game of cat and mouse.[3]
Cast
- Toni Servillo as Catello, a secret services operative
- Elio Germano as Matteo Messina Denaro
- Daniela Marra as Rita Mancuso
- Barbora Bobulova as Lucia Russo
- Giuseppe Tantillo as Pino Tumino
- Fausto Russo Alesi as Emilio Schiavon
- Antonia Truppo as Stefania
- Tommaso Ragno as Papacena
- Betti Pedrazzi as Elvira
- Filippo Luna as Giovannino
- Rosario Palazzolo as Don Gaetano
- Roberto De Francesco as senator
- Vincenzo Ferrera as assessor
- Maurizio Marchetti as Marshal Di Graziano
- Gianluca Zaccaria as Corporal Battaglia
- Lucio Patanè as Mayor Manciaracina
Production
Initially, the film had the working title Lettere a Catello ("Letters to Catello"), a title based on the Salvatore Mugno's book about Messina Denaro Lettere a Svetonio.[4] Grassadonia and Piazza worked for two years on the screenplay.[4] The film was shot in the summer of 2023 in Trapani, Sciacca, Salemi and Selinunte.[4]
Release
Sicilian Letters premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 5 September 2024 as a main competition entry.[5] The film was released theatrically in Italy on 10 October 2024 by 01 Distribution and in France on 16 April 2025 by Les Films du Losange.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Sicilian Letters (2024)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (27 June 2024). "Les Films du Losange Takes Sales on Mafia Drama 'Sicilian Letters' as First-Look Images of Elio Germano and Toni Servillo Are Revealed (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ "Sicilian Letters". Les Films du Losange. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Cardinale, Jana (7 January 2024). "La vita di "Iddu" in Sicilia: i retroscena (pure sul titolo) del primo film su Messina Denaro". Balarm (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick; Shafer, Ellise (23 July 2024). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker 2' With Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' and Luca Guadagnino's Daniel Craig-Led 'Queer' to Debut in Competition". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ Cantire, Davide (5 September 2024). "Venezia, Iddu con Elio Germano e Toni Servillo vince due premi alla Mostra". Movieplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Gbadamassi, Falila (15 April 2025). ""Lettres siciliennes" : un film dans les méandres de la cavale d'un chef mafieux" (in French). France Info. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
