Luca Vullo knows it, just look at the Italians gesturing: the show is guaranteed. It was 2013, everything was born from an idea, an intuition, to tell in an ironic and funny way why and how we are so good at using the body, the Italian gestures that make us known in the world. Yes, because Italians speak with their whole body. They make eyebrows, hands, shoulders talk. They use posture, move the body back and forth a few millimeters and communicate. They convey joy, disappointment, say things to each other, invite each other to eat, have coffee, even go out for a walk.
From Sicilian gestures to Italian gestures
The voice of the body, a docu-fiction, is Luca Vullo's first work on the subject. Luca he is from Caltanissetta, he is an actor, author, director, a complete performer who has traveled the world. Start focusing on this investigation, with a decidedly fun cut. Luca Vullo, with irony, turns into a "Piero Angela of gestures ". At first, he speaks of the "typical gestures of Sicilians". In this film, which sees Evelyn Famà as leading actress, interviews many characters, “from Emma Dante to Pippo Baudo". It starts from the local, but has a broader vision: “I was addressing everyone - it starts - soon after I move to London and my real international journey begins, thanks to this theme I collect a lot of interest and enthusiasm, without knowing anyone, I find myself working as a coach for the National Theater. I help the Irish actors to gesticulate ", because the company was about to go on stage with Pirandello's Liolà.
Communication with the body told in universities
In the same period, the The Guardian, takes its cue from a similar article in New York Times, and wonders how and how much the use of the body counts in communication. "At the Italian institute in London, they mentioned my name, and within a few months, I found myself in the Guardian, and was later called by the BBC". From there comes the proposal from the University of Bristol: “They asked me about intensive Italian gestural workshops. It was an extraordinary success, I had a lot of fun, after them, the University of Cambridge. Then I arrived in Australia, in Japan, with many participations in universities around the world, for six weeks I found myself at Mills College, in San Francisco, California ”.
Italian gestures become a real show
It is there, thanks to this experience that “The students pointed out to me that studying with me made them laugh, a lot. They suggested the formula of a stand up comedy that I began to experiment in American clubs. When I returned to London, this One man show continued its tour ”. From which a real show takes shape: "Where I involve my mother, in addition, a plus, anthropologically, is a way to make people think about the values of the Italian family". Luca's mother is Angela Gabriele, a very sweet and evocative name.
Luca Vullo involves his mother in the project
But how do you decide to include your mother firsthand? “A friend of mine, who has an association in Norway, calls me for the One man show, and asks me, can you bring me a chef? I immediately think of my mother, I tell her, do you feel like cooking for 150 people? And she, immediately, 'just tell me before we send the packages'. He intended that he would send the food directly from Sicily. Keep in mind that she has been catering for my films. She also did the costumes and this time I made her go up on stage. She is on stage in the role of herself. She is not an actress, she talks about her way of loving a child ”.
Gesture tells the Italian language in the world
This is why the result is a sincere vision, which reaches the hearts of the spectators. “Before the pandemic during the Week of the Italian language in the world, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Accademia della Crusca to promote the Italian language in the world, we have been to Vietman and Malaysia. The show, which toured for embassies, cultural institutes and universities, was a great success “after the staging, there were orderly rows of spectators waiting to see my mother. They needed to hug her, they called her mami, it wasn't just showing appreciation for the show, but it was really a need for affection. Think that now (due to pandemic ed.) We can't do it anymore ".
Italian gestures Unesco intangible heritage
In 2020, it comes out Italy has done things. How to speak Italian without speaking, a very funny text, published in the comic series Come I saw I laughed edited by Stefano Sarcinelli and published by Ultra Edizioni. Luca presented a petition to make Italian gestures a Unesco intangible heritage. Luca Vullo does not hide a certain amazement, enthusiastic: "But then who was supposed to tell me? To go around the world with my mother? ".
But the family is still more present than ever in Luca's entourage: the personal manager is his sister Liana, who takes care of public relations with attention and love.
Luca Vullo on TV compares the various gestures
“Now I collaborate with Bocconi in Milan, with workshops on Italian gestures, non-verbal communication at the University of Padua, aimed at educators”. The last book, written with Daniela Lucangeli, is entitled The body is a teacher with illustrations by Francesco Chiacchio. Luca can also be followed on TV, with the program Power in gestures, written with Duccio Forzano. You can find it on TVLoft, the platform of Il Fatto Quotidiano.
They are 5 episodes of 20 minutes each. The cut, as always, is fun and informative. A lightness full of contents, to discover non-verbal communication, an all-Italian must.
Credits images, management Luca Vullo and TVLOFT
Hermosa interview. Much thanks.
Thanks