«The only Neapolitan thing I have is the background» - Interview with Peppe Lanzetta
Playwright, actor, and highly successful author. A unique bond with the city of Naples and with the best artists who have shaped the city's artistic heritage, from James Senese to Pino Daniele, a former classmate who often confessed «to feeling "chiatto" (fat) and insecure about the world of entertainment.» A constant desire to learn to improve oneself, but above all to be intrigued by the humanity of people. That's probably why, during the interview, Peppe Lanzetta can't help but praise the depth of soul of his dearest friends; that's how we end up talking about the "Maestro" Franco Battiato. Peppe Lanzetta has never felt fulfilled, and this has been a good thing for his career to improve year after year, project after project, from making short documentaries to acting in 007 Spectre as the villain "Lorenzo."
Peppe wears T-shirt J’ADORE NAPOLI, shirt POLO RALPH LAUREN, boxer ABERCROMBIE&FITCH, shoes CHURCH’S, socks GALLO, glasses CHROMEHEARTS. Sara wears shirt and skirt stylist’s own, shoes CHURCH’S, glasses CHROMEHEARTS.
Peppe wears T-shirt J’ADORE NAPOLI, shirt POLO RALPH LAUREN, glasses CHROMEHEARTS. Sara wears shirt stylist’s own, glasses CHROMEHEARTS.
Peppe Lanzetta, 68 years old, is one of the protagonists of Parthenope, the new film directed by Paolo Sorrentino competing at the Cannes Film Festival. The role he has secured further solidifies his long-standing relationship with the director nominated for an Oscar for Best International Film for The Hand of God. «In September 2022, I received a call from my agent: he told me that Paolo wanted to meet me. When we met, he complimented me on my career and handed me the script for 'Parthenope' after talking about the project for just a few minutes. And Paolo is someone who never gives the script to anyone.
«To act in ‘Parthenope’ Paolo Sorrentino simply asked me if I was willing to gain a few kilos; I replied that there would be no problem.»
That's how Peppe Lanzetta talks about his meeting with Sorrentino, with whom he had already worked in 2001 for his first film, L’uomo in più, praising his almost unique professional approach. «What impresses me most about Paolo Sorrentino is his desire and ability to materialize everything he has in mind. When I first read the script for 'Parthenope,' I thought it was impossible to realize, then I saw the team he had assembled and immediately changed my mind. Moreover, he treats me like a brother, he doesn't have the haughtiness of many directors, even though he is very demanding.»
Sorrentino's call was a great opportunity for Peppe. The role assigned to him in Parthenope is an awaited stepping stone that comes thanks to a career rich in masterful works but dedicated to a niche audience, at an age when most actors choose to end their careers rather than embark on new adventures. Despite his achievements, Peppe Lanzetta tells us about the difficulty of meeting the demands of a director of Sorrentino's caliber. «I had to prepare for months after discovering that I would have to play this pulpy, bizarre, and sinful character. So I got into character: he frequently brought me to Rome during the months when the film was shot so that I could meet the lead actress (the only character Lanzetta interacts with in the film) to see if the couple really worked.» Peppe continues to tell us about Sorrentino's meticulous work and preparation for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, his second after L’amore molesto by Mario Martone in 1995: «At that time, 'L’amore molesto' was the only Italian film competing at Cannes, and today 'Parthenope' is again the only Italian film. Then I don't care much about the Festival, it's all about glitter and sequins. But, thanks also to the experience I gained, I know how not to be dazzled by this 'showcase.' I know what's important and what's not. Parthenope, which is a missionary film, I've already seen it in preview in Rome, and I know I did an excellent job, so attending Cannes is just 'one more thing.'»
Coat FAY, trousers PAOLONI, shoes CHURCH’S.
Coat FAY, trousers PAOLONI, shoes CHURCH’S.
Coat FAY, trousers PAOLONI, shoes CHURCH’S.
Coat FAY, trousers PAOLONI, shoes CHURCH’S.
Peppe Lanzetta is an old-school professional. In his career, he has staged many theatrical performances, such as Roipnol and Napoletano pentito and has made appearances on TV - «I also went on TV with Maurizio Costanzo,» he tells us. But somehow, the world of entertainment can prove to be ruthless. «When Covid-19 hit, I tried not to be overwhelmed by the changing world of communication. I chose not to adapt to this switch for fear of appearing pathetic, although I was aware that the demand for communicative means was changing, and that this was synonymous with an evolution of cinematic language and the world as a whole. The world was changing, and I chose to remain attached to the so-called 'cinema from the theater.' I don't care about the historical moment we're living in; I want to go to the cinema because it clears my mind.» It's not certain that the advent of Netflix and new streaming platforms won't push a man who has made communication his life to reinvent himself. «It takes much more to bring me down. And above all, I had a 'down moment' in my career many years ago, which helped me face difficulties of all kinds. I experienced it exactly at the age of 40. At that age, I had already achieved everything I had always dreamed of: money, publicity, success, and popularity,» Lanzetta recounts. «Then, like all runners who reach the finish line and collapse, I realized that the key to getting back up was to 'normalize' - to come back down to earth and enjoy every moment of my life without making too many problems for myself. That's how I learned to find myself again.»
Peppe Lanzetta has accumulated a lot of experience over the years, getting used to sharing important stages with the most famous stars of international cinema. «When I spent 15 days in London on the set of ‘007 Spectre’, everything was excessively 'normal.' For me, filming that movie was like taking a day trip, I didn't have any performance anxiety.» Lanzetta has learned to «let things flow,» learning to face professional difficulties with greater lightness. In addition, he told us about how important it is to believe in oneself without creating too many expectations: «Fame and self-awareness in one's abilities should be experienced naturally: I still remember when Bernardo Bertolucci called me to compliment me on the independent film 'Take Five.'» In front of the critical eyes of the general public, Peppe Lanzetta has alternated between major productions and independent projects, personal projects to which he is still very attached. One of the most memorable is Sara sarà, a short documentary produced in 2011 of which only a 5-minute trailer has been released. A project that he still holds dear to his heart and that gave him the opportunity to deepen his acquaintance with Walter D'Aprile and Vincenzo Schioppa, two of the three founders of nss: «During the production of 'Sara sarà,' there were too many people on set, too many pseudo directors. And Sara herself - who is a dear person - didn't quite understand what I wanted to tell through the project, she already imagined herself in a beautiful dress, ready to go to Venice. I wanted to tell the pain of a diversity of the neighborhood where I grew up, starting with Sara's story, one of the first transsexuals in the area,» Peppe Lanzetta recounts. «Wisely, I chose to stop 'Sara Sarà': I realized that the intentions of the people involved were incompatible. The product was very good, but I've never been so demanding,» Peppe Lanzetta adds, emphasizing his inclination for projects that tell of borderline lives. «’Figli di un Bronx’ e ‘Messico Napoletano’ talk about characters who, despite living in marginal contexts, know how to dream, so they become positive heroes. I've never wanted to talk about the underworld or various criminal organizations; I've always privileged the psychological aspect of young people: mine have always been indictments with a gaze oriented towards hope. Among my stories, there's one called 'Un gelato pistacchio e limone': one of the scenes depicts two boys climbing onto the roof of a building in the Vele di Scampia; the boy, having nothing to show the girl, tries to impress her by showing her the Secondigliano prison still under construction.»
Coat stylist’s own, jeans ROY ROGER’S, shoes CHURCH’S, socks GALLO, hat BORSALINO, sunglasses CHROMEHEARTS.
Peppe Lanzetta owes a lot to Naples. But despite this, he tells us how his friendships with the greatest artists of Naples were simply friendships. To be inspired from a professional point of view, Lanzetta looked overseas, even before dreaming of entering the world of entertainment. «The actor who changed my life was Dustin Hoffman. Especially after I watched the movie 'Lenny,' inspired by the comedian Lenny Bruce. A few years later, I paid homage to his work with a show titled precisely 'Lenny.' In the '80s, I then met John Belushi and fell in love with his anarchic humor.» Those in the industry noticed this fascination with the United States. They immediately understood that Lanzetta, though Neapolitan, only had the background.
«There was an American actor, his name was Tomas Arana, who often sought me out to ask me to come to America: he noticed how my gaze was elsewhere. I'm happy like this, halfway between Naples and the United States.»
Coat stylist’s own, T-shirt J’Adore Napoli.
Photographer and Creative Director Vincenzo Schioppa
Light Tech Luca Baldini
Light and Digital Assistants Luca Tarricone, Matteo Sagliocco
Stylist Tiny Idols
Stylist Assistant Giulia Gaudino
MUAH Claudia Coccoli
Actor Peppe Lanzetta
Interview Andrea Mascia
Special thanks to Teatro Mercadante, Sara Carbone, Revolutionary Eyewear and Essenza Vintage.
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