PODCAST | Chiara Nicoletti interviews Steve Buscemi, director of the film The listener.
As the closing film of its 19th edition, Giornate degli Autori chose Steve Buscemi’s latest film as director, The listener, starring Tessa Thompson as Beth, a helpline volunteer. Written by Alessandro Camon, the film has been chosen by Buscemi to direct, because, to quote the director: “In a time when superhero entertainment provides welcome escape from reality, but might leave us helpless in front of it, it felt crucial to make a film where our main character has a superpower we can all find within ourselves: listening.”
The listener: Beth is a helpline volunteer – part of the small army that gets on the phone every night across America, fielding calls from all kinds of people feeling lonely, broken, hopeless. Over the last year the tide has become a tsunami. As Beth goes through her shift, the stakes rise: is this the night she will lose someone? Save someone? Eventually, Beth’s own story comes to light, revealing why she does it. All along we remain with her: listening, comforting, connecting – patching the world back together, one stitch at a time.
To discover more about the film, click here.