Budgets and Markets

Chapter 20 Mery Per Sempre

Summary

Mery Per Sempre (Forever Mary) broke many rules. The him was rejected by distributors prior to production, leaving producer Claudio Bonivento to finance it himself, with the help of a loan from Banca Nazionale del Lavoro. The subject matter was new and, at first sight, not promising for a feature film. The story is set in the most depressed environment in Sicily and among the leading characters is a group of young lawbreakers, including a transvestite prostitute, a mafia murderer and an habitual criminal. Given these ingredients, a television sale seemed unlikely. Apart from a small professional cast, headed by Michele Placido, the film featured non-professional actors, including genuine inmates of a Sicilian ...