Specials

... only through the headlines in the papers and news broadcasts.

 

 “Rocco’s affair”, as some readers remember well since they were the first in the world who were able to read about it, is that of a young Italian\American condemned to death and executed “justly” (a term which appears, none the less, to be used excessively) in Virginia, in the year 2000, at the end of a trial that was fraudulent and heavy handed which found him guilty for the rape and murder of his fiancée, Sarah Wisnosky.

 

On the stage of that farce of a trial were the characters such as a defense lawyer who was sleeping in the courtroom, a police detective who was hiding an extramarital affair with one of the witnesses, and a judge who was dismissed for bad conduct and who gave the order to tamper with test results at the laboratory where DNA exams were to be conducted, as it had come to light in 2005.

 

On that stage above all there was he, Rocco, who up until his last moments proclaimed his innocence, always believing in American Justice, and always certain that the truth would have prevailed.

 

Raul Bova, an Italian actor well known in the United States, and Manuela Procacci, one of the most noteworthy young Italian screenwriters, are among those who lived Rocco’s story reading it in the papers or listening to it on the T.V. news. But even they, almost by an accidental move, but a much needed one, have returned to the affair, taking it in like a punch to the stomach, much so that there is a film in preproduction that will retell the story bringing it to a much wider audience.

 

How did the idea of this film come about?

 

Raul: “I was looking for an important film, one that said something and that above all would leave something in the viewer. It was Manuela that came to me with the idea…”

 

Manuela: “Yes, a bit before all of this, I had spoken with Massimo Bonetti( one of the players in a stage production based on Rocco’s story.), that had given me the book that

Recounted how the events unfolded. I would have thought it impossible for something this terrible to even happen. And when Raul told me that he was looking for a subject to make a film about, I thought: I’ve sure got an idea for him!”

 

Raul: “I quickly thought that it was a duty to do a film about a story that is so disturbing. And here we are!” 

 

How did preparations proceed?

 

Manuela: “I went to the United States, where I met with Derek’s mother and his brother. Among other things I felt a strange feeling when I met Derek’s little nephew, born a few months after his death, who was named after his uncle. At that moment, hearing him [the nephew] called Derek made me feel a particular sensation. Then I met with Tony di Piazza, the Italian\American that gave of him self in a thousand ways so that the tragic end could be avoided, and Frank Slayton, the investigator that tried to save Derek by conducting investigations for five years pro bono, since the family obviously couldn’t have allowed themselves further expenses that would have been beyond their means. Soon I will be leaving for Virginia. I think it would also be useful to visit the places that

Set the stage for the event, but also to shed some light on what the impact these places and its people, had on Derek, a Yankee and even more so one of Italian descent.”

 

Raul: “Right now we’re in the preproduction stages. There are many American actors that have shown us interest in particular roles. For instance, George Clooney with whom we are in discussions for the films production, as well as for the role of Frank Slayton. Joe Turturro, is also interested in directing it as well as a role, which could be that of Seth Tucker, Derek’s last defense lawyer. I will play the role of Derek.”

 

In what language will the film be in?

 

Manuela: “In English. Funny, that’s the same question that Jane, Derek’s mother, had asked me. And when I gave her the answer she put her hand on her heart with such an eloquent expression that showed here happiness, since by doing this the American public’s opinion will be directly vested in the project. The important thing is to underline the fact that we are not proposing to do a preachy film, rather we are looking to produce something that shows both sides of the coin, which will raise questions.”   

 

 Raul: “I can’t reveal anything other than Manuela’s idea for an ending that will contain a message, almost in code, to Derek’s son, Serf. It will suggest to him that in reality there is something more that he must read into. We hope that Serf sees the film and will know how to interpret this message.”