With Oscar voting starting today, double Oscar-winner Jane Campion is championing young Italian director Maura Delpero’s “Vermiglio,” Italy’s contender in the international film category.
The intimate period drama, set at the end of World War II in an Alpine village where the arrival of a soldier causes disruption in the dynamics between three sisters, has made Delpero a new international indie darling after “Vermiglio” won the Venice Film Festival’s Silver Lion in September.
Delpero’s sophomore film later segued from Venice to Toronto and a slew of other fests around the world. The director had previously made a splash with “Maternal” which takes place in an Argentinian refuge for teenage mothers run by nuns.
“Vermiglio,” which after Venice sold widely around the world, was released in the U.S. on Dec. 25 by Sideshow and Janus Films.
Below is the full text of Campion’s letter praising “Vermiglio” to Oscar voters, which Variety has obtained exclusively.
“Vermiglio” has put a spell over me. I am a real sucker for linen cloths and modest sturdy furniture, snow, and fresh cow’s milk; the world “Vermiglio” explores delights me a lot. I also feel deep appreciation for Maura Delpero’s formidable skills as a director managing a story of this scope with such steadiness and maturity. I felt held and interested in this world all the time. At first I thought it was going to tell a kind of Olde World gentle ideal, but then the story of new love followed the highs and lows of real life, death and betrayal … I loved all this and felt a deep trust in Delpero’s grip on life, the true drama of real life.
“Vermiglio” is a gift.
I further realise it must have been an incredible mission to make this film; the difficulties of the weather, shooting in such cold weather and in the snow where you have to be careful of crew footsteps churning up fresh fall. And such a large cast, and so many children, all so at ease and relaxed together. That is hard to do. The crew, d.o.p. Mikhail Krichman, and cast are uniformly excellent.
I can’t help but wonder what Delpero will make next. I am excited by her strengths and determination as well as the beauty she achieves in “Vermiglio,” I am a fan!!!
Jane Campion
Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on Friday, Jan. 17 after voting ends on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Courtesy Filmitalia
