Celleno, the Italian Thost Town Turns Into a Film Set for the Movie on Gioacchino da Fiore

A few days ago, filming finished on the movie 'Il Monaco che vinse l'Apocalisse' (The Monk Who Conquered the Apocalypse) , a work inspired by the life of Gioacchino da Fiore, founder of the Florentine order and one of the most studied Italian figures abroad. Celleno, the Italian ghost town an hour from Rome, defined by the Guardian as one of the most beautiful ghost towns in Italy, was chosen as the location for the film.

The protagonist chosen by the director is actor Francesco Turbanti, already starring in the film Margini presented in competition at the International Critics' Week of the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Turbanti is Joachim (Joachim), the son of a well-to-do family who leaves everything to become a pilgrim, a beggar, a Cistercian monk, a biblical exegete, and the founder of the Florian Order. He has mystical experiences and thus begins to develop his first intuitions, prophesying the coming of a new era in human history. He writes about the Apocalypse authorised by Pope Lucius III. His ideas transcend space and time, and after 400 years reach Michelangelo, who draws inspiration from them to create the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. After a journey to the Holy Land with the Crusaders, Joachim decided to change his life. He returned to Italy and reached Rome and Casamari. He enters the Cistercian monastery where he receives the tonsure, a true ritual that projects man into the divine world. Actor Francesco Turbanti on the set wanted to undergo a real tonsure, days on a diet, barefoot walks, moments of meditation away from the hubbub in search of silence, the intimate kind. A demanding training period to explore the intimate life of a complete monk. The film, shot in very high 12K resolution, is produced by Delta Star Pictures, supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Calabria Film Commission. It is directed by Jordan River (one of the pioneers of 3D in Italy), and will be the first international film inspired by the figure of Gioacchino da Fiore, whom Dante Alighieri described as 'endowed with a prophetic spirit' (he used this expression only for him). A giant who enlightened consciences in the 11th century and beyond, one of the most influential figures of our Middle Ages, a monastic reformer and, above all, a visionary.

The film - says the director - will also appeal to atheists because it does not focus on miracles, but explores human experience (what drives a man to leave everything to become a monk?). Joachim - Latin names are used in the film - investigates the ultimate meaning of life and thus becomes the 'prophet' of hope, the philosopher of human existence, the saint of non-believers. Also referred to as a 'pictorial thinker', one of his three examples in the world of the Liber Figurarum is jealously preserved at Oxford. After the summer filming in unique naturalistic locations in southern Italy, the film caravan of 'The Monk Who Conquered the Apocalypse' has landed in Lazio, in the most beautiful places just a few steps from Rome, with a focus on those less seen on the big screen. The director wanted breathtaking locations: a magical route, full of enchantment in the Sasseto Natural Monument Wood. We crossed Blera, an ancient Roman bridge with three arches, three arches that recall the three Trinitarian circles drawn by Joachim in the eleventh panel of the Liber Figurarum. Stories intertwined in the Borgo Fantasma of Celleno, a few minutes from Lake Bolsena, in the Viterbo area.

Troupe and cast had a dreamlike experience in Antica Monterano, in the heart of the Regional Nature Reserve. They continued on to Theodoli Castle in Sambuci, and then into the abbey walls of the proto-cenoby of San Sebastiano in Alatri, an ancient monastery that also hosted Benedict of Norcia around 528. It also landed in the magnificent Abbey of Fossanova, the oldest example of Cistercian-Gothic art in Italy, which was declared a national monument in 1874. Also on set at the Theodoli Castle (Sambuci, Rome) was the American actor Nikolay Moss, winner of the prestigious Emmy Award (the most important television prize on an international level, considered the equivalent of the Oscar for cinema), who played the role of King Richard I of England.

Several Italian names are in the cast, including actress Elisabetta Pellini, who played the role of Queen Constance of Altavilla, as well as Giancarlo Martini (already co-starring in the film Freaks Out). Also on the set was G-Max, with a career in the Roman rap scene behind him as well as a creative actor in several national films, who played the character of Abbot Galfredus of Clairvaux. It was a research project that lasted several years in which, in addition to the director and the writer, journalist and screenwriter Michela Albanese, medievalist historians and illustrious scholars also collaborated, including Valeria De Fraja (medievalist and member of the Scientific Committee of the International Centre for Gioachimite Studies) and the well-known philosopher Andrea Tagliapietra (who has written several books, including on Gioacchino da Fiore for Feltrinelli, as well as director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for the History of Ideas). The crew includes many internationally recognised and appreciated professionals, including, to name but a few, Makeup Supervisor and Special effects Designer Vittorio Sodano (Oscar nominee for Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" and for Sorrentino's "Il Divo", winner of two David di Donatello awards), set designer Davide De Stefano (former concept artist for the film "I cavalieri che fecero l'impresa" by Pupi Avati, production designer for "The Cursed Ones" and for the recent American production "Voice from the Stone" by E. D. S. S., winner of the Oscar for "The Cursed Ones"), and director of the film "The Cursed Ones" by Pupi Avati. D. Howell with actress Emilia Clarke, also known for the successful series 'The Iron Throne'), costume designer Daniele Gelsi (defined as the artisan of history, author among other things of some of the costumes used in the series on Leonardo da Vinci) the Director of Photography Gianni Mammolotti (DoP of numerous films including 'Francesco' with Raoul Bova by Soavi, 'Karol' and 'The Fourth King'), the Camera & Steadicam Operator Federico Martucci (to his credit more than 40 national films), sound by Stefano Civitenga and Gianfranco Tortora (sound recordist of more than 100 national films).

Media contacts:

Mayor Marco Bianchi

sindaco@celleno.it

Comune di Celleno

0761 912002

Celleno, also known as the "Ghost Town" has been listed by the Telegraph as one of the 25 most beautiful villages in Italy lost in time.The Municipality of Celleno is situated in the Province of Viterbo, on a tuffaceous spur in a strategic position: between Civita di Bagnoregio and Lake Bolsena, just an hour's drive from Rome, and close to Orvieto and the Tuscan border.

Of great importance is the majestic medieval castle located in the village square. The Orsini Castle, once inhabited by a large part of the population, was abandoned after a violent earthquake.

For 40 years the castle was subsequently only inhabited by the internationally renowned artist Enrico Castellani, who died in December 2017. In his workshop-studio in Celleno, Castellani created most of his art, which has spread all over the world and reaches millions of euros per work. Today, visiting the Orsini Castle, it is possible to breathe in the art of the recently discovered Master, together with the uninhabited structure. Celleno is the "Ghost Town" because of its unspoilt beauty, with the Orsini Castle on the tuff cliff (like the nearby Civita di Bagnoregio) and the surrounding green area full of opportunities for slow tourism with various food and wine highlights.

Particularly well known is the Celleno Cherry Festival held every year, with the characteristic "spitting of the hazelnut" with the proclamation of the national winner of whoever has managed to expel the hazelnut the farthest. Celleno is also called 'The Cherry Town' because of its historical tradition of cherry growing and its well-known festival.

Of great attraction is the Festival of street artists "Teverina Buskers" one of the most important events in Italy in this field, with more than 50 artists from all over the world. The next edition will be held in the village of Celleno from 13 to 15 September 2019.

Many artists have visited and noticed Celleno for its beauty and for the start of film projects, such as the recent visit of director Sorrentino.

This release was published on openPR.