by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Giampaolo Morelli – director and protagonist, Nicole Grimaudo – actress
Italian actor and director Giampaolo Morelli has chosen Trieste and the surrounding Karst landscape as the setting for his new film, Dalla parte giusta (On the Right Side), in which he also stars.
Morelli, widely known for his role in the television series L’Ispettore Coliandro, plays Nico Boni, an actor in a fictional hospital soap opera called Vite e Cuori. After being sidelined professionally, Boni attempts to improve his public image by winning over Daria Rinaldi, an activist played by Nicole Grimaudo.
The production began filming on Oct. 5. Alongside locations in Trieste and the Karst, recent scenes have been shot at Duino Castle.
Combining the roles of director and lead actor has presented its challenges, Morelli said. “It means going crazy. Doing both at the same time isn’t easy, but somehow you manage.”
Grimaudo said she approaches her characters by identifying personal connections with their flaws and gradually developing their emotional complexity.
She also praised Morelli’s work as a director, saying his experience as an actor helps him communicate clearly with the cast and understand their needs.
Morelli described filming in Trieste as a privilege, praising the city’s architecture and welcoming atmosphere. He compared its character to that of Naples, while joking that the description of Trieste as the “Naples of the North” might be applied to almost any Italian city.
