Writer and director Ivan Cotroneo
on Wednesday presented his third feature film A Kiss (Un Bacio),
which opens in theaters March 31.
The movie about three 16-year-old friends who end up being
bullied - each for different reasons - also touches on
homophobia and is based on his novel by the same title.
"I wanted to tell the story of this kind of violence and
also to celebrate the age of adolescence, in which everything
happens for the first time and is both beautiful and terrifying
- I wanted to explore fragility" Cotroneo said.
"I believe it is adults' responsibility to make it clear to
kids that all forms of discrimination as to gender, sexual
orientation, skin color, social background, and the choices
people make about how to live their lives are stupid and very
dangerous," he said.
The novelist, screenwriter and director has taken the movie
on a pre-opening tour of six Italian cities for teen audiences
only.
The tour is linked to an anti-bullying campaign with the
hashtag #friendshipcansaveyou - which is the ultimate outcome of
the movie.
"I wanted to show that things don't necessarily have to end
badly," Cotroneo said. "I am a strong believer in this. Although
group violence and bullying often win, it is still possible to
escape, to affirm one's independence of thought and behavior".
The youth screenings kicked off in Udine, where A Kiss was
shot, and will screen in Pisa on March 17, Bari March 18, and
end up March 23 at Rome's Auditorium theater.
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