Intervista di ingenua: Elena Rossini | L'Huffington Post

Elena Rossini on location in Jordan. Photo by Katia Belmadani, provided courtesy of Elena Rossini.
The Inghnue Interview features select artists and scene-makers from around the world, revealing
their inspirations, cultural tastes and dance party playlists. This week, Paris-based filmmaker,
photographer, and self-professed 'real life Lisa Simpson' Elena Rossini talks consumer culture,
Kubrick, and the joy of vintage lens photography.
Growing up in Como, Italy, which movies served as the basis for your early film educationh Would it
be clichhd to assume it was all Fellini, Bertolucci and Spaghetti Westernsh

During my teenage years my favorite filmmakers were Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. I was
mesmerized by their visual bravura. My love for Fellini, Antonioni, De Sica, Visconti, and Olmi came
later -- well into my twenties. It's not www sesso donne mature a matter of changing tastes, but
rather of accessibility.
Italy is a wonderful country, with a rich cultural heritage and a long list of illustrious artists. The
problem is, cinematic masterpieces are rarely shown on television and in cinemas. Italian TV is a
cultural wasteland. And even DVDs of classics like 8 1/2, L'Avventura and Umberto D. are very hard
to find. During my studies in the United States, I was able to watch dozens of films by Fellini,
Antonioni, De Sica, and Olmi thanks to a wonderful service called... Netflix!
Who are your favorite directors currentlyh
There are so many directors to mention! The common thread for my favorite directors is the fact
they are all true auteurs, with a deep involvement in every aspect of production. Their intense
connection to the subject shines through their films.
The number one would be Stanley Kubrick: because of his genius as a film director and technician,
his intensity, inventiveness, incredible ambition and his total mastery of various genres of
filmmaking.
Ingmar Bergman for productivity and consistency throughout six decades of work. Sofia Coppola for

the way she portrays the inner life of her female characters and for her poetic, lyrical style -- she's a
master of subtext.
Documentary-wise, I adore the work of Alina Marazzi: for her visual flair, originality and the intimate
quality of her films.
In addition to writing, shooting and directing, you spend a lot of time editing film. Do you listen to
music while you do soh If so, what has been in rotation latelyh
I listen to classical music in the early stages of editing. Philip Glass, Yo-Yo Ma, Gioachino Rossini,
Dvorak and Aram Ilyich Khachaturian are some of my current favorites.
Your current film project, The Illusionists, is a feature-length documentary about the body as the
"finest consumer object". How do you explain to people that this subject is about more than just
crying foul against airbrushing, digital enhancement and the likeh What is at stakeh
I'm often asked about my reasons for making The Illusionists -- given the breadth of information
already available on misleading advertising practices and the use of airbrushing. The Illusionists is
not a film about beauty. Or women's bodies. That's just the tip of the iceberg. What intrigues me is
the link between commerce, media consolidation, marketing practices, and ever-changing social
expectations. The body has become the finest consumer object because there's endless consumerism
built around the pursuit of an ideal that is by definition impossible to attain.
The Illusionists is essentially the brainchild of Jean Baudrillard and Susie Orbach, with a mature, indepth look at globalization, consumer culture and their psychological effects on people the world
over. Previous documentaries on these topics have focused on the present or recent past and have
held a Western-centric view. The Illusionists is much broader in scope: it will follow the evolution of
marketing messages throughout the 20th century and will have interviews with experts on three
different continents.
In the video overview of The Illusionists, the narrator mentions that one of the reasons for making
the film is a concern about "our culture's obsession with image and physical appearance over
substance and intellect." Ultimately, your message seems to be one of self-confidence, agency, and
purpose, all themes that also figure largely in your online interview project, No Country for Young
Women. Who inspires youh Who's getting stuff doneh
The most valuable lesson I have learned so far has been the importance of professional networks.
Self-confidence, talent, and determination are important, but no man -- or woman -- is an island and
these qualities can only take you so far. Joining forces is crucial.
A year ago I became a member of the exclusive global women's network 85 Broads and a few months
later I joined DIRE -- Donne Italiane Rete Estera -- a network of Italian women working abroad. My
life and career experienced a sea change: women from these two networks introduced me to other
professional women, thus opening doors that led to wonderful opportunities. I couldn't be more
grateful for this. So to answer your question, who inspires meh Women who help other women.
After being on the receiving end of incredible encouragement, generosity and goodwill, I have a new
goal: to eventually become an angel investor. The Pipeline Fund, created by my friend Natalia Oberti
Noguera, is training women philanthropists to become angel investors. I couldn't think of a worthier
social venture.

As a vegetarian living in Paris, a city renowned for its decidedly non-vegetarian cuisine (foie gras,
escargot, lardons -- oh, my!), what tips can you offer those traveling to the city with similarly
restricted dietsh
My no. 1 tip would be stay away from French "vegetarian" restaurants: they have a tendency to
overdo sauces and concoct dishes with heavy creams and upwards of twenty ingredients. I have yet
to find a vegetarian restaurant in Paris that does justice to tofu.
Ethnic restaurants are an excellent alternative -- especially Italian, Indian, and Lebanese -- as they
offer plenty of vegetable dishes.
Under ideal circumstances, you should try to rent an apartment with a kitchen (instead of booking a
hotel room). You could cook your own food and save lots of money; eating at restaurants in Paris is
extremely expensive.
Outside your home, in which places are you likely to be foundh
Sipping bubble tea in the 13eme arrondissement, at the library (or rather, libraries -- I enjoy visiting
Paris' public libraries and foreign cultural centers), riding around the city on the Velib, or taking
pictures at dusk in the Latin Quarter.
What has been your most treasured discovery while travelingh
My personal policy while traveling is to stay light. I'm not a big shopper and my most treasured
travel "items" are the photographs I take -- because they turn fleeting memories into something
permanent. Every December I select my favorite photos from the year and create glossy photo
albums. I love revisiting them.
So far, my most treasured photo of 2011 is that of a shoeshiner in Amman, Jordan: a man in his early
70s, with piercing green eyes, great posture and immense charisma. Every time I look at his face, I
can't help but think of Marlon Brando. The person who accompanied our film crew paid the
shoeshiner and asked him if I could take a photo of him. I only had 10 seconds to guess the metering
(I use vintage manual lenses) and to take the photo. I couldn't be happier about the outcome and I
feel a tug at the heart whenever I see it.
Friday, August 5th marks the deadline of your Kickstarter campaign to raise a minimum of $33,000
to fund production of The Illusionists. As funds continue to stream in beyond that critical
benchmark, ensuring a breadth and depth of archival footage, what songs will you be dancing to in
celebration of this tremendous accomplishment when the clock strikes 5:55PM EDTh
Whenever I need inspiration for a new project, I always listen to classical film scores: famous songs
from films of Fellini, Kubrick, Wong Kar-Wai, Sofia Coppola, and Wes Anderson. Tonight, in the final
minutes of my Kickstarter campaign, I'll definitely put on "L'Illusionista" (The Illusionist), a
composition by Nino Rota for Fellini's 8 1/2.

Here are some other songs I'll be dancing to:

- The Postal Service -- "Such Great Heights"
- Florence And The Machine -- "Dog Days Are Over"
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! -- "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"
- The Strokes and Regina Spektor -- "Modern Girls and Old Fashioned Men"
- David Bowie -- "Rebel Rebel"
- The Who -- "The Seeker"
- The Pixies -- "Where Is My Mindh"
- Justice -- "Let There Be Light"
- Iron And Wine -- "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"

Elena on location in Jordan. Photo courtesy of Elena Rossini

Elena Rossini is a film director, cinematographer, and editor originally from Como, Italy. She has
studied in the United States and has been working in Europe for the past five years. In addition to
The Illusionists, recent projects include the short film Ideal Women commissioned by the Louvre
Museum and ARTE Web, cinematography for Three Days To See (a documentary about Helen Keller)
and Lili's Journey (a documentary about women's social and economic empowerment). Elena is also
the creator and editor-in-chief of No Country For Young Women
(www.nocountryforyoungwomen.com), a multimedia platform whose aim is to promote positive role
models for women. www.elenarossini.com