Italy’s first golf film lands in Venice
Golf at the cinema
The first Italian film on golf, “Il Tempo è ancora nostro” è was premiered at the Venice Biennale as part of the “Confronti” space of Venice Days. Produced by Father&Son and Aurumovie, under the patronage of Federgolf and PGAI, directed and scripted by Maurizio Matteo Merli (son of art, his father, Maurizio, in the 1970s distinguished himself as one of the best-known actors in the detective genre), features Ascanio Pacelli as the lead actor. Federal Councilor, President of PGAI, è making his absolute debut in cinema.
The film tells the story of a’childhood friendship, that between Tancredi (Ascanio Pacelli) and Stefano (Mirko Frezza), who meet at golf as adults, both finding the path they seemed to have lost. The former è a wealthy bourgeois man, charming and seemingly happy, caught up in fact in frivolities that are pulling him away from his most precious treasures, his family and daughter. The second è on the other hand, poor and unkempt, the last twenty years have been spent between withdrawal and recovery communities. Both of them have a desire to redeem themselves and change their lives, finding that happiness so much sought but never found. Serving as the thread of the story is Costantino (Andrea Roncato), Stefano’s father (but also a bit of Tancredi’s), who will act as their “mentor”. And è with golf club in hand that, Tancredi and Stefano, manage to become themselves again. And’ the “power” of sport, and in this case golf, a tool of’inclusion that breaks barriers and celebrates diversity, becoming an essential source of life.
The Sutri National Golf Club, the home of Italian golf, and the Terre dei Consoli Golf Club, also in the province of Viterbo, served as theaters for a feature film also starring Miguel Gobbo Diaz, Simone Sabani, Viktorie Ignoto, with appearances by Antonello Fassari and, indeed, Andrea Roncato.
Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf Federation. "Thanks to ‘Il Tempo è still ours’, Italian golf, for the first time, arrives at the cinema and at the Venice Biennale, an extraordinary event that meets and inspires artists, art critics and fans from all over the world, distinguishing itself as one of the most prestigious global art exhibitions. It will be a great opportunity to once again enter the homes of Italians, demonstrating the beauty and inclusivity of golf and sport, an important tool for social cohesion. In’the context of a discipline that breaks down differences and allows everyone to compete on an equal footing. My compliments to director Merli, Ascanio Pacelli and all the protagonists of this beautiful film. It’ s a pride for the Italian Golf Federation, which I have the honor of presiding over, to be able to sponsor a film that will bring’ further benefits to the growth of golf".