On November 24 at the Torino Film Festival, within the Zibaldone section, Avemmaria, the directorial debut of Fortunato Cerlino, was presented. It marks an important debut, with one of its greatest strengths being the intense and deeply empathetic performance of Salvatore Esposito, chosen to portray the adult version of the protagonist, Felice.

The film, based on Cerlino’s autobiographical novel Se vuoi vivere felice, tells the story of a young boy growing up in a difficult environment on the outskirts of Naples, yet capable of nurturing dreams far bigger than the circumstances around him. While the young Felice is played by Mario Di Leva, it is Salvatore who carries the character’s emotional legacy on screen, revealing the scars, doubts, and strength of a man marked by his past yet still willing to search for a new meaning in life.

“Felice is a man who starts from the pain of a beautiful piece of news,” says Salvatore, “and he begins a journey to understand where that pain comes from and whether he can truly overcome it. This path pushes him to face everything that shaped and hurt him. But, as in the most beautiful stories, in the end love prevails. In the film, we constantly walk along the line between fear and hope, between suffering and joy, and ultimately that line is crossed.”

These words highlight the actor’s profound involvement in a project that goes far beyond a simple on-screen performance.

Fortunato Cerlino explained how choosing Salvatore Esposito came naturally and powerfully, beyond their previous collaboration on Gomorrah:
“I chose Salvatore because he was the only actor capable of understanding the code of the soul I wanted to bring to the screen. It’s not just because we know each other. He had the sensitivity needed to give substance and truth to the man Felice would become.”

Photo by press office MNC

Photo by Lorenzo Olivetti