Il Gattopardo. Una storia incredibile (The Leopard. An incredible story)

The Argentina Theater presents an original show by Francesco Piccolo, who retraces and tells the entire story of the publication of Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) (1958), the famous and only novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, and in particular the sad fate of a writer who will never know what will happen to his book - because it was published posthumously a year after the author's death - the political and literary issues, the clashes between writers and directors.

The story begins in San Pellegrino Terme, in 1954, when two elderly gentlemen arrive at a conference for young writers. One of them is none other than Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, who tells a journalist that he'd like to write too, as he has a historical novel in mind. And so the story of the novel's genesis unfolds step by step, with a compelling and often unbelievable narrative, all the various coincidences by which this historical novel would never see the light of day, would not be a success, or would be crushed by politics. And when in the end all the contingencies prove correct, and it becomes a worldwide success, the various coincidences of cinema begin, where the vicissitudes and "bumpy roads" leading to Visconti's masterpiece are countless.

During the show, several scenes from the film, which is so closely linked to the novel that it is considered one of the exemplary adaptations in the history of cinema, are shown. Each film is discussed as if they were two possible interpretations of the same work, attempting to convey the powerful and mysterious essence of this text. A compelling and enthralling monologue-story about a unique moment in Italian literature.

By and with Francesco Piccolo
Produced by Savà – Produzioni Creative

Photo: official poster of the show