“Milano”, interview with the director Christina Vandekerckhove and the actor Matteo Simoni

“Milano“, directed by Christina Vandekerckhove and starring Matteo Simoni, is in competition at Alice nella Città. The film explores the intricate relationship between a father and his deaf son, tackling themes of resilience, communication, and unconditional love.

A Father-Son Struggle

“Milano“ centres on Alain (played by Matteo Simoni), a father raising his deaf son, Milano, alone. The film’s core is the complex dynamic between them, further challenged when Milano’s biological mother reappears. Christina Vandekerckhove described the film as “a story about resilience, but also about the loyalty of the child towards both parents.” She was inspired by real-life conversations with parents while researching a documentary on social housing. “I met a father who hadn’t seen his son in years. His helplessness and struggle stayed with me,” she shared.

Portraying Alain: Emotional Preparation

Matteo Simoni took on the challenge of playing Alain, a man haunted by his limitations and past trauma. “Alain deeply wants to give his son a better life, but struggles with his own limitations,” Simoni reflected. Preparing for such a complex role involved meticulous rehearsals and discussions. “We talked a lot about who Alain is, his background, and rehearsed extensively on location. It allowed us to work in a very precise and organic way,” Simoni explained. The actor also emphasized how working with Basil Wheatley, the deaf actor playing Milano, added layer of complexity: “You can’t just improvise. We had to stick to the script because Basil had to know the scene by heart.”

The Wind as a Silent Character

A recurring element in “Milano“ is the wind, which serves as a metaphorical layer representing the emotional turbulence within the characters. Vandekerckhove sees the wind as a way to express Milano’s unspoken emotions. “For me, the wind and rain are an extra layer that conveys Milano’s feelings without using words or sound. It’s important to me that the audience can feel the wind and the rain as part of the emotional landscape,” she explained.

Matteo Simoni appreciated this choice, adding that “it makes the film slightly bigger than life, yet still deeply rooted in reality.” The wind becomes a poetic device, highlighting the unspoken struggles between Alain and his son.

A Universal Tale of Parenthood

At its heart, “Milano” is a story of parenthood, resilience, and the responsibility we bear as parents. Vandekerckhove hopes audiences will be moved by Alain and Milano’s journey. “It’s a universal story. I hope people recognize themselves in these characters and are touched by their struggles,” she said. Simoni also reflected on the film’s message about raising children with love and patience: “One day, they will rule the world. It’s our task to raise them with care, to listen to what they need.”

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