Hoping to shake up the complacent Italian Communist Party, a group of leftist radicals sends an incendiary letter to a major evening newspaper declaring their intention to volunteer to fight American troops in Vietnam as a political statement against the war. When the newspaper actually prints the letter, drawing public attention to the situation, the provocateurs face the hard choice whether their commitment to the cause is worth risking their lives.
Directed by Francesco Maselli (Storia D’Amore, winner "Special Jury Prize" 1986 Venice Film Festival), former assistant to Michelangelo Antonioni (STORY OF A LOVE AFFAIR, BLOW-UP), this searing black comedy is a brash example of Italy’s celebrated "cinema politico." The cause of a scandal at the time of its release, the film was almost banned and Maselli’s career nearly ruined. Despite its status as a cause célèbre, OPEN LETTER TO THE EVENING NEWS has languished in obscurity, denying Maselli his rightful place alongside the provocative likes of Francesco Rossi, Bernardo Bertolucci, Gillo Pontecorvo and Costa-Gavras. Financed by legendary Italian producer Franco Cristaldi (DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE, CINEMA PARADISO), OPEN LETTER TO THE EVENING NEWS features a rare performance by Nanny Loy, one of Italy’s top filmmakers. Also featured in the cast are Monica Strebel (SLAUGHTER HOTEL), Tanya Lopert (SATYRICON), Lorenza Guerrieri (Mario Bava’s THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH) and Graziella Galvani (Radley Metzger’s CAMILLE 2000).
NoShame’s exclusive, uncut special 2 DVD edition has been prepared with the participation of Franco Maselli and includes the documentary FRAGMENTS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, the controversial, award-winning filmmaker’s overview of Italian history featuring interviews with Virna Lisi and Claudia Cardinale.
