Francis Ford Coppola on Tuesday
received the Capotoline She-Wolf, Rome's highest civic award,
from Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and thanked his grandparents for
making him an Italian.
Speaking after Gualtieri said "the She-Wolf is to thank you for
all the emotions you gave us," the 85-year-old multiple Oscar
winner said: "Thank you for this eloquent speech, now I think of
my grandparents, without them I could not have been a son of
this land and I would not be here and with this I also want to
thank Rome".
Coppola, whose maternal grandparents were from Basilicata and
whose paternal grandfather was a popular Neapolitan composer, is
set to present his latest film Megalopolis at the Rome Film
Festival running October 16 to 27.
Despite being set in New York, it refers to the city of New
Rome, a metropolis that is also changing due to the conflicts
between Cesar Catilina, a brilliant artist who tries to project
himself into a utopian and idealistic future, and the mayor
Franklin Cicerone, a reactionary who is tied to a corrupt status
quo. The film will be in theaters from October 16 with Eagle
Pictures.
Gualtieri said in presenting the prize to the Godfather auteur:
"It's a great honor to reciprocate at least in part all the
emotions that you have given us.
"This is a way to say thank you for your work. Your bond with
Italy is deep and real and your courageous and visionary cinema
is a point of reference for all of us. Megalopolis is a tribute
to our city, but also a drama for democracy in a place that is a
symbol of our freedom. Your films have changed our lives, but
also those of others, I think of Apocalypse Now and The
Godfather even if I love The Conversation above all.
"Coppola," Gualtieri concluded, "is also a giant in civic-minded
cinema. Your generosity towards young people is also well known.
Rome loves you".
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