In the two-parter “Im Netz der Camorra”, Tobias Moretti plays with daughter Antonia. In an interview, he reveals how that worked.
What happens when your past catches up with you? This is exactly what is discussed in the new ZDF two-part “Im Netz der Camorra” (September 6th and 7th, at 8:15 pm). Actor Tobias Moretti (62) embodies the winery owner Matteo DeCanin in the gripping thriller, who leads a happy life in South Tyrol with his wife and daughter. But one day Matteo’s old friend Nino Sorrentino (Fabrizio Romagnoli) shows up and throws his life into chaos. Because today’s father has to face his dark mafia past.
Tobias Moretti’s daughter was in front of the camera for the first time with her father for the thriller: Antonia Moretti (23) plays Laura DeCanin, Matteo’s only child. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the former “Kommissare Rex” star talks about working with his daughter and his passion for good food. Moretti also reveals how life on his organic mountain farm changed during the Corona crisis and why the avowed environmentalist “doesn’t think much of electric mobility”.
You play the leading role in the ZDF two-parter “Im Netz der Camorra”. What was the first thing you thought of when you read the script?
Tobias Moretti: It was a long development and I was involved from the start. The story and the basic constellation of the character immediately grabbed and fascinated me. Not only because it suits my geographic mentality with its settlement in South Tyrol. Also because it is an archaic story and I was aware that it had to be told in a special way. Given the setting, which could lead to tourist clichés, it was important to keep the story tough, nonetheless. We were lucky that, due to the special situation last year, director Andreas Prochaska was available. With him we have completely redesigned the story.
Before the film, did you study organized crime in Italy?
Moretti: The problem of the Italian Mafia has of course been a problem for my generation since the 1980s, the Russian or Chinese I have dealt less with. But if there were still remnants of social culture in the Italian mafia, it is just brutal with the Chinese or Russian mafia. But that was not so much the issue. For me the story is a family drama and only secondarily a mafia film. Ultimately, the most existential of a person is their family if they are lucky. If he’s unlucky, he’s a stranger to his own family.
You and your daughter Antonia were in front of the camera for the two-parter. How was it for you to shoot together?
Moretti: It was no different than with other colleagues. I couldn’t make a difference either. The cameraman recommended Antonia and she won over the casting. At first it looked like she had no time because of her studies. She is studying physical medicine. During the shoot, she amazed and impressed me.
Did you give her a few tips too?
Moretti: Andreas Prochaska is very precise and as a young actor you first have to get used to this way of working and understand that nothing better can happen to you. I didn’t interfere in the collaboration between the two of them.
Do you think it’s good that she’s also an actress?
Moretti: It is not clear whether she will become a full-time actress. First of all, she will become a physio-doctor. She loves to play, but studying is just as important to her. She also studied jazz singing in New York. I don’t know what life will bring her. At the age of 23, the world is open to you.
The story takes place on a vineyard in South Tyrol. Is this what your perfect vacation looks like?
Moretti: In this case it was my place of work. I visited the winery repeatedly during the planning phase so that I could immerse myself in this world. Shooting in such a place suits me in that I don’t separate work and life.
Are you a wine lover too?
Moretti: Yeah, sure. I “know” wine because I like to drink it. But now viticulture is a world of its own, a science and is subject to certain laws. Of course it is also an economic factor, the trade in top wines is booming.
How important is good food to you?
Moretti: It is important to me that everyday, simple food is something special. This is how the culture of life begins and this is how I noticed it from home. That means that you not only like to eat, but can also cook. In addition, good food must not be a parallel world for top earners, it has to be part of everyday life.
Do you put yourself at the stove too?
Moretti: Yeah, sure. But I’m not that used to doing it anymore. I used to be very ambitious. But now I don’t dare to do that anymore because my wife cooks so well. I only have my special dishes like risotto or paste. What fascinates me about my wife: My uncle and a few other people come by unannounced at 12:00 noon and suddenly there are seven or eight of us. At 12:35 p.m. a two-course menu is on the table. I find that more exciting than the conscious, educated bourgeoisie: “Today we’re going to cook properly.” I just think it’s nice when there’s something normal about it. And that has nothing to do with money. Good food or a cultivated life should never become an elitist cause.
You have been running an organic Berghof near Innsbruck for a number of years. Has anything changed there due to the Corona crisis?
Moretti: Life and work have become more concentrated. It was just a special time for families too. A lot of work, a lot done together. Everyone helped and enjoyed it.
You are committed to protecting the environment. What do you do privately to live sustainably?
Moretti: Awareness is the most important thing. I don’t believe in turning the world upside down in theory. The little things matter. I also don’t think much of electromobility, the ecological balance of which is not exactly good either. We pretend that the whole world suddenly has unlimited electricity. That’s not true. Societies and policymakers must be careful not to lie to themselves. A small Euro 6 diesel is more environmentally friendly than a large Tesla, which has a lot of lithium in its battery. In general, nobody needs SUVs that weigh tons.
What do you think should happen?
Moretti: I think we shouldn’t stop looking for alternative fuels and forms of energy, instead of maneuvering ourselves completely stupid into our next dilemma and dependencies. It is the reason of the small steps and not the big theory.