PUROSANGUE, the movie…
From the official website of Purosangue: “Purosangue is an International Solidarity Running Project that has been operating since 2011 in Italy and Africa, spreading the culture of clean and social sport. He collaborates with associations, companies, institutions, sporting events and athletes promoting a vision of innovative running. Purosangue is also an athletic club with several training camps both in Italy and in Africa. The idea comes from Max Monteforte, professional athlete of the race who traveled over 100,000 kilometers in his career and Nico Pannevis, manager and runner raised in Kenya and moved to Europe. Twenty-five minutes of film in which dreams, expectations, uncomfortable truths of the race are enclosed. Two athletes in comparison on different levels, doping will try to flatten everything, smoothing the path, eliminating distances. background is the Rome Marathon, a race for which the athletes prepare themselves with different strategies, which will take them on opposite roads.The film closes with the Rome Marathon but shortly before a choral scene, almost of the past, a “moment of glory” where athletes, like red blood cells, bring oxygen and ideas to the spectators, proud of having done a job from the blood pure.“Purosangue – il film” is the umpteenth bet of Max Monteforte, realized with the help and availability of professionals like Virginio Favale (director), Pierre André Transunto (director of photography). With: Sebastiano Colla (in the role of the manager), Giuseppe Cruciani (in the part of the doctor), Roberto Pedicini (voice of the protagonist), Gianluca Scuotto (protagonist), and Festus Langat (co-star). Do not forget the presence of Bikila, the symbol hamster and mascot of this adventure”. Me and Virginio Favale can claim the credit for having believed from the beginning in this dream, and to have contributed, in “our little”, to give an important help. The film was also awarded with the Paladino D’Oro in the 34th edition of the Sport Film Festival in Palermo. It received a prize for the best original music by Carlos Sarmiento and Mannapò.
The making of, the filming, the trip to Kenya…
This project was entirely self-produced by the founders of Purosangue, and as a friend and fan of the project itself, I agreed to contribute with my work but having a very low budget. So to say that I made the cinemaphotography is an euphism. But I did everything possible according to my possibilities. The fact is that a few months before the start of filming “I had the brilliant idea of making an accident with the scooter” reporting a bimalleolar fracture. Filming in Kenya and filming in Rome and during the Marathon were at that point all in doubt. But thanks to a very good physiotherapist, willpower and above all patience and understanding of the whole team, I succeeded in the challenge. Although in those months I limped … The experience in Kenya was fantastic, Nairobi and Iten where we filmed. Then a week of relax in the south: passing through Mombasa a part of the team found itself in Diani beach, Galu beach and then some days in the bush. A great memory, especially the visual contact with animals like elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, etc … Truly exciting!
