Where it was filmed 'A Brighter Tomorrow'

A Brighter Tomorrow is the 14^th feature length film directed by Nanni Moretti, who plays Giovanni, a famous Italian director preparing to shoot his latest film. But with his marriage in crisis, his French producer on the edge of bankruptcy and his daughter walking out, everything seems to be against him. As if balancing on a tightrope, Giovanni has to reconsider his way of doing things if he wants to lead his little world to a bright future.

Moretti’s film is a meta narrative where the director plays his own alter ego – named Giovanni – as he did in Mia Madre (2015) and The Son’s Room (2001). The cast includes Mathieu Amalric, Margherita Buy, Silvio Orlando, Barbora Bobulova, Benjamin Stender, Jerzy Stuhr, Elena Lietti, Blu Yoshimi, Flavio Furno, Beniamino Marcone, Laura Nardi, Francesco Brandi, Francesco Rossini and Rosario Lisma.

The film was shot in 14 weeks in Rome. As long sequences unfold, central areas of the city become recognisable as if Moretti wants to pay homage to them, almost declaring his love. Castel Sant'Angelo features in the opening frames, with painters descending the walls of lungotevere to write the title of the film in large red capitals. Lungotevere, nearponte Giacomo Matteotti, provides a backdrop to the action film co-produced by Giovanni’s wife (Margherita Buy). At night, Moretti and his French producer (Mathieu Amalric) chat as they circle piazza Mazzini several times on scooters before heading off down via Sabotino to ponte Pietro Nenni. The Imperial Fora are clearly recognisable as the setting for the sumptuous, crowded final parade that closes the film, as are several streets in the Garbatella neighbourhood and the former Atac deposit in San Paolo.

The sets were built at Cinecittà, in particular that of the Quarticciolo neighbourhood, where the Budavari Hungarian Circus arrives on invitation from members of the PCI. The imposing set was positioned in a large area belonging to Cinecittà Studios on the via Pontina for the entire shoot. It comprises the tall ochre-coloured residential buildings typical of the neighborhood, in perfect Fifties style: the office of the Partito Comunista Italiano (Italian Comunist Party) can be glimpsed on the ground floor alongside a newsagent and a delicatessen.  Scenes were also shot in the Cinecittà Studios on via Tuscolana, in the paths that flank the bar, outside Teatro 8 and inside a soundstage.