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Film Archive

The Human Capital

Horizons 2014 / Il capitale umano / Italy, France 2013

One of Italy’s most successful directors set his crime story in the entrepreneurial circles of northern Italy where property is the only measure of value. Two socially unequal families are connected by events involving their kids. The relationships in both families are also irrevocably changed, as are the futures of all those involved. A star-studded cast and ingenious directorial approaches ensured success with critics and viewers alike.

The Human Capital The Human Capital

Synopsis

The fate of two socially unequal families is connected by the hit-and-run death of a cyclist. The police discover that the vehicle in question belongs to a rich hedge fund manager, and they’re wondering who was driving. If they accuse the man’s son they will upend the former’s plans for a political career. The son, however, has a classmate whose father, a small-town upstart, sees an opportunity for social advancement and, naïvely trusting in the rich man’s integrity, is willing to risk putting his family in debt. Told in chapters that often look at events through different eyes, the story develops from a thriller into a psychological drama and social study with traits of the grotesque. Paolo Virzì transplanted the story of Stephen Amidon’s novel from America to the business circles of northern Italy where money is the only measure of value. The excellent cast assured the film’s success in theaters, in particular, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, who won the award for Best Actress at the Tribeca festival.

About the film

110 min / Color, DCP

Director Paolo Virzì / Screenplay Francesco Bruni, Francesco Piccolo, Paolo Virzì podle románu / based on the novel by Stephen Amidon / Dir. of Photography Jérôme Alméras / Music Carlo Virzì / Editor Cecilia Zanuso / Producer Fabrizio Donvito, Marco Cohen, Benedetto Habib / Production Indiana Production / Coproduction RAI Cinema, Manny Films / Cast Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Valeria Golino, Fabrizio Gifuni, Luigi Lo Cascio / Contact BAC Films

About the director

Paolo Virzì

Paolo Virzì (b. 1964, Livorno, Italy) devoted himself to theater and literature, then studied screenwriting at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. He debuted in film as a director with Living It Up (La bella vita, 1994), screened at Venice and awarded a David di Donatello for Best New Director. His debut led the way to a career involving work as a screenwriter, director, and producer. His films tend toward tragicomedy. Selected filmography: August Vacation (Ferie d’agosto, 1995), Hardboiled Egg (Ovosodo, 1996), Kisses and Hugs (Baci e abbracci, 1998), Caterina in the Big City (Caterina va in città, 2003), Her Whole Life Ahead (Tutta la vita davanti, 2008 – Horizons section at KVIFF 2009), The First Beautiful Thing (La prima cosa bella, 2010), Every Blessed Day (Tutti i santi giorni, 2012), and The Human Capital (Il capitale umano, 2013).

Contacts

BAC Films
9, rue Pierre Dupont, 75010, Paris
France
Phone: +33 180 491 000
E-mail: [email protected]

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