Asia Argento: "The devil offered me everything from the hills of Hollywood"

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Neither press conference nor interviews more than for the media (which are two) that sponsor the festival. That is the seat belt that surrounds Asia Argento in Sitges. Thus, his appearance to receive the Meliès Prize was limited to a meeting with the moderator with the sole power to ask. Before her, about fifty attendees. The most prominent of them, a huge white elephant that more than sweep, whispered. "The devil offered it all to me from the hills of Hollywood," he said to explain their relationship, perhaps more with hate than love, with the city and industry of Los Angeles. And in the diffuse metaphor all that he had to say to the pachyderm of the marras went away.

To locate us, Asia Argento, daughter of the icon of the 'giallo' Dario, acquired a notoriety added to that of her work in the cinema when in 2017 she confessed to the 'New Yorker' who was raped with just 21 years old by Harvey Weinstein. A year later, at the same crime scene, at the Festival de Cannes, it was meant from the grandstand fist with a speech that in addition to remembering the fact concluded conclusively: "They know who they are. And, most importantly , we know it, and we will not allow them to live in impunity. " Shortly after, in August, actor Jimmy Bennett accused Argento of abuse. She denied it immediately to transcend that they reached an economic agreement so as not to go to trial. Then he changed his statement and she became the one who accused Bennett.

And with that said, the elephant that follows his own.

Be that as it may, the Festival wanted to focus on the other. And that another is an enviable and privileged career since it began with nine years of age and that includes everything: both the facet of director, with three fiction films ('Scarlet diva', 'The heart is a liar' - where he directed Bennett- and 'Incompresa', which was selected in Cannes), as the much better known actress (figure in the blockbuster 'xXx') and even music. She claimed from the stage even its dimension, let's call it that, as a writer. And always obliged to over-effort that implies being a woman in a world fundamentally of men. And that goes for the cinema in general and, especially, for the fantastic one in particular. "It is clear that the voice of women is heard more and more. The world is evolving in that direction because there is a different point of view to offer," he says for a moment to remember its beginnings: "I remember when I directed my first film with just 25 years. I had to make clear from the first take who was in charge, that I be respected. My hoarse voice helped me a lot. I have enough testosterone.

He tells that he soon learned that "life stinks and cinema is cool." And it does so to recall its beginnings on the screen that are confused with its beginnings in the strict sense. His whole family, from a distributor grandfather in Brazil to six of his close or distant relatives (not forgetting the almost mythical figure of the director of 'Suspiria' his father), had or has to do with cinema. "I soon learned that issues like 'glamor' or the loss of anonymity, which doesn't interest me at all, are part of the game. And knowing this is given by genes. I didn't grow up like a normal girl because the other boys were interested in me. ". And then, his father: "For me, I was a superhero. I visited him in the shootings and my life was distributed between my house and his films." And one more, almost definitive: "I am convinced that without the cinema I would have been, I don't know, a murderer. The cinema has helped me to exorcise my internal demons."

In his creed, there is the devotion to independent, European cinema. "In the United States, cinema is one of the first industries. There are exceptions with which I have worked as Gus Van Sant or Abel Ferrara, but that conditions everything. Therefore, although I soon went to Hollywood, I did not leave tempting. In fact, I've only shot a blockbuster in my whole life, "he says and this is where the demon metaphor cited above fits.

The words he repeats the most are stubborn and obsessed. The two adjectives keep them to themselves. So it has been in his effort to lift against everything and all his films. And so it is when she is convinced of the importance of spontaneity and freedom when working. "When I work, and I did so with Charlotte Gainsbourg in 'Incompresa', I like to surprise the actors, who are always alert. Gainsbourg, for example, changed its lines every day so that it would not accommodate," he says. And he continues: "The cinema is that. If you want security do not dedicate yourself to it, become a postal worker." Well, that.

He entertains himself in telling his relationship, from teacher to student, with Ferrera. Reflect on how difficult to begin and about the maturity in which you already, and finally, feel installed. Talk about one movie, the other ... but never 'The heart is a liar'. Elephant. "I'm tired of being an actress. I'm more interested in theater. If I look back, I see that I have given life to all types of prostitutes, including lesbian prostitutes. That or I have had to become sick, whether physical or mentally, "he says and this time he drags his voice a little more if possible.

His intervention is over and the elephant, in effect, is still there.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

• Harvey weinstein
• U.S
• Brazil
• theater

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