Genre: Drama

Language: Italian with English Subtitles

Director: Maurizio Scaparro

Cast: Massimo Ranieri, Domenico Balsamo, Adriana Asti, Jean Sorel, Valeria Cavalli

Released: 2009

Duration: 85 Minutes

Rating: M contains violence & offensive language

Distribution: Palace Films & Raitrade

2009 Italian Golden Globes: Best Music

‘The Last Pulcinella’ is liberally inspired by Roberto Rossellini’s unedited screenplay and directed by acclaimed theatre maestro Maurizio Scaparro.  A story of the difficult relationship between a young Neapolitan in search of new creative inspirations and a life far away from his hometown, and a father who hardly manages to survive as a street artist. 

Massimo Ranieri (one of Italy’s greatest pop singers) stars as the struggling middle-aged actor Michelangelo, separated from his wife, who performs ‘stories of Pulcinella’ as a street artist in Naples’ piazzas. His son Francesco (Domenico Balsamo) flees to Paris after witnessing a Camorra crime. Michelangelo follows him after a tip-off by his estranged wife even though he does not speak a word of French. With the help of an old friend Dorient (Jean Sorel), and an ageless actress (Adriana Asti) who lives in an abandoned theatre, the father and son put on a show that will reinvigorate their often strained relationship.

Selected as the Closing Night film of the 2008 Rome International Film Festival, ‘The Last Pulcinella’ is a powerful film about a changing world and the power of theatre to bridge the gap between people, set against the backdrop of French racial tensions.

The Pulcinella character from the Neapolitan commedia della'arte shows up in many cultures - in New Zealand we know him as "Punch" of Punch & Judy.