Pino Daniele biopic ‘Je so’ pazzo’ premieres at Rome Film Festival

The biopic ‘Je so’ pazzo’, directed by Nicola Prosatore, has premiered at the Rome Film Festival and entered theaters on October 15. The film portrays the life and musical evolution of the legendary Neapolitan singer Pino Daniele, focusing on his formative years and his rise from the streets of Naples to musical icon status.

Massimiliano Caiazzo stars as Daniele, undergoing a significant physical transformation to capture the artist's essence. The narrative, inspired by the book written by Daniele's son Alessandro, explores his complex family dynamics, his relationship with his first wife Dorina (played by Mariasole Pollio), and his revolutionary musical fusion of blues, jazz, and Mediterranean traditions. A key cinematic moment depicts his historic 1981 concert in Piazza del Plebiscito, which drew 200,000 people.

To maintain authenticity, the production utilized original studio recordings of Daniele's voice, with singer Mirko Della Vecchia providing certain vocal parts. The film aims to present a human, imperfect portrait of the artist rather than a sanitized myth, highlighting the personal struggles and social realities of Naples during the 1970s and early 1980s.