April 21, 2008–Andrea Molaioli’s thriller The Girl by the Lake was top winner of Italys David di Donatello film prizes, taking 10 awards, including both director and first-time director, picture, screenplay, producer and actor.
Film by Molaioli, a former assistant for Nanni Moretti, won over her mentor’s star vehicle, Quiet Chaos.
Chaos, helmed by Antonello Grimaldi and starring Moretti, had been the favorite with 18 nominations, but it won only three nods.
Instead, the actor David went to Toni Servillo, star of Girl by the Lake, for his role as an inspector probing small-town residents after a naked female body is found by a lake.
Produced by Nicola Giuliano and Francesca Cimas Indigo Film, Molaiolis multiple-David-winning debut was adapted by scribe Sandro Petraglia from the Norwegian novel Dont Look Back, by Karin Fossum. It debuted at the Venice critics week and played nicely when released by Medusa.
The Girl also scooped a cinematography David for Argentine lenser Ramiro Civita and the editor nod for Giogio Franchini.
The actress prize went to Margherita Buy as a middle class woman weathering sudden economic hardship in Silvio Soldinis Days and Clouds, which also took the supporting actress David for Alba Rohrwacher as her feisty daughter. Supporting actor prize went to Alessandro Gassman for Chaos, which also drew two music nods.
Best European picture went to Marianne Faithful vehicle Irina Palm, which was a success in Italy and is released in the U.S. by Strand.
DAVID AWARDS:
PICTURE
The Girl by the Lake, Andrea Molaioli
DIRECTOR
Andrea Molaioli, The Girl by the Lake
DEBUT DIRECTOR
Andrea Molaioli, The Girl by the Lake
SCREENPLAY
Sandro Petraglia The Girl by the Lake
PRODUCER
Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima The Girl by the Lake
ACTRESS
Margherita Buy, Days and Clouds
ACTOR
Toni Servillo, The Girl by the Lake
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Alba Rohrwacher, Days and Clouds
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alessandro Gassman, Quiet Chaos
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ramiro Civita, The Girl by the Lake
EDITING
Giogo Franchini, The Girl by the Lake
SCORE
Paolo Bonvino, Quiet Chaos
ORIGINAL SONG
Lamore Trasparente, by Ivano Fossati
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Francesco Frigeri, I Vicere
COSTUME DESIGN
Milena Canonero, I Vicere
MAKEUP ARTIST
Gino Tamagnini, I Vicere
HAIR ARTIST
Maria Teresa Corridoni, I Vicere
SOUND
Alessandro Zanon, The Girl by the Lake
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Paola Trisoglio, Stefano Marinoni, The Girl by the Lake
EUROPEAN UNION PICTURE
Irina Palm, Sam Garbarski
FOREIGN FILM OUTSIDE THE E.U.
No Country For Old Men, Joel and Ethan Coen
DOCUMENTARY
Madri, by Barbara Cupisti
SHORT
Uova, by Alessandro Celli
