Interview with Enrico Oldoini

TRG: We are with Enrico Oldoini, Don Matteo's director. He is not arriving in Gubbio, he is just coming back, in fact he directed the first series too. What's your mood in coming back to Gubbio?

Enrico Oldoini: Well, that makes me laugh because I'm just shooting an episode whose title is "The past returns" so in this case that fits perfectly! I'm coming back feeling better that the first time.

TRG: Why?

Enrico Oldoini: For many reasons. Partly because of my wish to come back here, where I have a lot of wonderful memories and then it seems to me to be here on a holiday, a working holiday, because when I first came here there were many problems: it was the first time, it was a new series, it was something to invent completely. Everything is much easier now beacause I know the place, the surroundings, the characters, the actors, the troupe, we are all like brothers... in short: it's really easy!

TRG: Is there something new in comparison with the first series? What has changed?

Enrico Oldoini: If something changed, it was for the best: Terence Hill, Nino Frassica, Flavio Insinna feel more sure, all the actors do, because they know their characters better. I have to work less beacause I have to show them few things. The director of photography, the technicians, all those who work with me already know how to work and what I want. I often just look at what they do and I correct those small mistakes which sometimes happen. Once again: everything is easier!

TRG: In your opinion, what is the secret of this fiction? What did seize the Italian audience?

Enrico Oldoini: Luckily everything went as I had hoped since the beginning, i.e. when I first came to Gubbio, I found such a magical, ancient place which represented an old, historical Italy, an image which is also appreciated abroad. I conceived this series thinking not only of Italy but as, thanks to Terence this fiction will be broadcast in foreign countries too, it is nice to show a historical side of Italy with these stone walls, ancient churches, streets, roads and buildings... it's just beautiful! And then the first thing that stroke me about Gubbio is that when I came here I saw it from beneath and it was entirely included in the shot, well, it's easy to shoot when everything is included in it. Cinema and tv too are the art of synthesis and when you manage to have it all included in it, it's really great. I think that Gubbio highly contributed to the success of this series. You know, finding a palce where you still live in a way a little resembling to the walls of this town, i.e. ancient, it's quite good. And then I wanted the priest to be that way, Terence always praises me for that, a little retro and not bold like some of his characters. He is someone riding his bicyle with his hat on, a very humane man, a little bit old fashioned, can I say that?

TRG: Yes, old fashioned!

Enrico Oldoini: Yes because, without being a fanatic, I think he is very humane, maybe more than he was in his Trinity roles or so... Sure, at that time he was younger, cheerful, witty, easy, while he is a priest now who has this inclination for crime and he manages to cooperate with the carabineers and he not only discovers the culprits but he also tries to bring back theirs souls, i.e. to redeem them. Thus there's also a message of good feelings, and all this has produced these good results.

TRG: Thank you very much for this interview. Could you please send your greetings to the audience of "Secrets from the set"?

Enrico Oldoini: My best greetings because I'm happy to be here and I thank the audience for being there once again to listen to what we tell you.