Sara Serraiocco, 26 year old, plays Giulia in Worldly girl, the brilliant debut film by Marco Danieli. The film was presented at Giornate degli Autori-Venice Days at 73rd Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica of Venice and at 60th BFI London Film Festival.
Giulia is a strong yet fragile character who falls in love with Libero (Michele Riondino) and through several difficulties she begins the path that leads her to separate from Jehovah’s community and their strict and repressive rules.
Michele Riondino and Sara Serraiocco in “Worldly girl”, by Marco Danieli
What did impress you when you read the script?
This project started in 2012. I met Marco when I was studying (at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome). He asked me to shoot a short film about Jehovah’s Witnesses. We didn’t go through the casting process, as the project took shape step by step. It was a project I wanted to take part in anyway. I was moved by the subject and I got on well with Marco since the very beginning.
What did you know about Jehovah’s community before shooting?
Nothing really. I went to their meetings, I got to understand how they interact between themselves and other people. I also met a girl who left the community. So I had two reference points: the Jehovah’s witnesses and the girl’s first hand experience.
All the characters have a dark side, not only Libero. Which is Giulia’s dark side?
Giulia is a positive character, but she has a huge inner conflict. She wants to be Libero’s girlfriend and to live a normal life, but at the same time she wants to stick to Jehovah’s rules. This inner conflict causes anger, as in the scene in which she argues with a classmate.
According to Jehovah, the world is evil. As soon as he leaves prison, Libero is lost, while Giulia seems to find herself in this new world.
It is a coming-of-age story. Through Libero’s experience Giulia grows up and discover different aspects of life, a party with friends or the sexual experience. Both Libero and Giulia want to change their lifestyle.
The couple comes from completely opposite worlds. What does make their love story begin?
Sometimes we are fascinated by our opposites. The boy’s name is Libero (meaning free), he grew up with no rules, while Giulia comes from a strict family.
Giulia’s family lives in a illusory harmony. At first sight they look idyllic.
Dialogue is at the base of a Jehovah’s family, but implicates strict rules. Dialogue is only a way to teach rules. They do not exchange opinions. It’s a one way conversation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses use their own language. How was using it?
I had to study a new language, I read books and leaflets. Many lines look unnatural to me.
How was working with Marco Danieli?
It was a great experience.Marco is an open and sincere person.
