Christophe Honoré’s inventive Cannes Competition entry brings together an all-star French cast including Catherine Deneuve (playing herself) in this delightfully meta comedy paying homage to the great Marcello Mastroianni.
Chiara Mastroianni, the daughter of Marcello Mastroianni (La Dolce Vita, 8½) and Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), is an actress disillusioned with the business. The shoot she’s on is absolutely chaotic and unpleasant. When she auditions for a role in a new film, she’s told by the director: “More Mastroianni than Deneuve … More Marcello than Catherine.” She starts to feel she might prefer to live her father’s life, leading to Chiara beginning to dress and speak like him – and then insisting on being called Marcello. Her mother (Deneuve herself) reacts with bemusement and concern, but others (like actor Fabrice Luchini) go with the flow. Soon, Chiara is in Rome, retracing Marcello’s steps but also on a path to re-finding herself. Reimagining some of Marcello Mastroianni’s iconic roles, Marcello Mio is a playful depiction of the challenges and joys of the creative life under the shadow of famous parents.