Bobby Paunescu's movie Francesca was forbidden in the Venetian cinemas

Romanian film Francesca, director Bobby Paunescu’s first long motion picture, was stopped from rolling in the Venetian cinemas, after the film attracted a series of controversies. Italian deputy Alessandra Mussolini and Verona mayor Flavio Tosi threaten to sue the director, according to the Italian press.

La Republica informs that the Cinematographers Association from Venice was the one to announce that the film will not roll locally, explaining that Fandango distribution house made the request. Fandango owns the distribution rights for Francesca in Italy. Alessandra Mussolini, ex-fascist dictator Benitto Mussolini granddaughter, and Verona’s mayor stopped the distribution, threatening to go to court.

Apparently, the furious reactions were triggered by a film character’s lines: Francesca’s father, played by Teo Orban, says: „Haven’t you heard that Mussolini bitch wanting to kill all Romanians? And the idiot mayor of Verona, who declared his city to be free of Romanians?”.

The film was shown last week, opening Orizzonti section during the 66th Venetian Film Festival edition. It was scheduled to roll in the local theatres, starting September 5.

The motion picture „Francesca”, casting Monica Barladeanu in the main role, was produced in 2008 and presents the story of a Romanian woman who wants to open a school for the immigrant children in Italy, but who particularly wishes to change Italians’ perceptions on Romanians, after the brutal Mailat-Reggiani real episode from the autumn of 2007.