Italian Retreat Director Crialese Went Into Isolation to Make ëRespiroí New York University-trained Italian director Emanuele Crialese recalled, ìAfter nine years in New York and the struggle of my first film [ìOnce We Were Strangersî], I dreamed of being isolated for some time. Thatís how I found Lampedusa, a small Italian island southwest of Sicily.î The director ended up making ìRespiro,î inspired by the legend of a nonconformist who apparently committed suicide in the sea and was brought back by prayer. Crialese added, ìI wanted to maintain a fable- or legend-like tone. I wasnít interested in exploiting the folklore of a postcard-like Italian island. I wanted a magic realismóreality alternating with a dimension of fantasy. The use of dialogue is contained. The characters have gestures and expressions that reflect their down-to-earth nature, thoughts and intentions.î For the lead of Grazia, he cast Italian actress Valeria Golino, herself no stranger to the United States with roles in ìRain Manî and ìFrida.î Filmfest DC audiences may have also seen her in Francesca Archibugiís ìThe Pear Tree.î Asked how she prepared for the role, Golino said, ìThe language was my main preparation. They speak a dial ect there. Being an actress, I wanted to sound like the others. Everybody else is a nonprofessional. Otherwise, I didnít really prepare.î ìWe had the luxury of rehearsing for a month,î noted Crialese. ìThere was something that was not like a formal rehearsal time, but it was an informal way to start to know each other Ö to get a sense of family.î Golino added, ìGoing swimming Ö it was a retreat. We were isolated already from everybody else. We talked a lot Ö getting to know each other. It was just a moment of bliss for me, being there. It was a great experience. Everything I did stayed with me. To me, the whole experience was useful.î --Ky N. Nguyen