Asia Argento, the Italian actress, filmmaker, and musician, is set to grace the grand outdoor stage at the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. This year's festival, which will celebrate creativity with its Life Achievement Award, has chosen Argento as its honoree, recognizing her unique body of work that spans genre films, auteur cinema, and intimate self-portraiture. The festival's artistic director, Giona A. Nazzaro, praised her for her unwavering commitment to reimagining filmmaking and taking personal risks.
In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Argento discussed her upcoming projects, including the postcolonial thriller Death Has No Master, in which she stars, and the documentary Gia - The Shadow of Beauty, which she has executive produced. She also reflected on her own journey and the impact of her work.
A Life Achievement Award and a Shift in Energy
"It feels incredible. I truly didn’t expect it," Argento said of her Life Achievement Award. "Actually, lately I was thinking, my God, I’ve never been invited to Locarno, and I never had a movie at Locarno. I was self-deprecating as usual, thinking they must hate me and everyone is against me. And then this came totally out of the blue, and I was moved to tears."
Argento attributed this unexpected recognition to a shift in her energy in recent years. "In the last few years, I had a big shift of energy, and I guess life has a way of teaching you to be humble sometimes when you don’t want to learn," she explained. "So I see this as a sign of the universe that I’m going in the right direction."
She continued, "With my work, I was in the past [sometimes] criticized for it being a little bit extreme and pushing the boundaries of what was accepted from a woman, as an actress, as a filmmaker. What I was trying to achieve created this gut unease, and now this is a way of the universe telling me that I did the right thing at the right time."
Death Has No Master: A Psychological Thriller
Argento is set to present Death Has No Master, a film that delves into themes of colonialism and trauma. "I always find characters that are nonlinear, that are a bit tormented and that have a vast history and things to face from the past fascinating," she said. "I like complex characters with a lot of suffering."
The film, directed by Jorge Thielen Armand, presented a unique challenge for Argento. "It was pretty hard, because we developed the script and the character a lot while we rehearsed for a month before the shoot in the locations with all the non-actors there," she recalled. "As we were preparing, I realized, ‘My God, my character is a racist; she’s really not somebody that I would like to meet.’"
To prepare for the role, Argento immersed herself in the history of colonialism in Venezuela. "There were a lot of stories about the richer people that went away amid all the political problems, and the people working for them, the descendants of the slaves," she shared. "I hate to even use the word [‘slave’], but they took over houses where they worked if somebody was gone for over 10 years."
Gia - The Shadow of Beauty: A Documentary About a Supermodel
Argento has also signed on as an executive producer for Gia - The Shadow of Beauty, a documentary about the life of Gia Carangi, a late U.S. supermodel. "I was always fascinated by Gia Carangi and her arc in this show business world," Argento said. "She was somebody who was a very smart girl who was not fully inside the system. She was very broken and then had her battles with addiction."
The documentary, directed by Rosita Larocca, takes a nuanced approach to Carangi's life, focusing on her struggles with desire, abandonment, and visibility in 1980s New York. "There are many fascinating [themes and issues] to explore," Argento noted. "What makes this particularly fascinating is the way the documentary navigates Gia's complex identity and her impact on the fashion world."
A Journey of Self-Discovery and Impact
Argento's work, both in front of and behind the camera, has been a journey of self-discovery and impact. "Now I see that everything is making sense," she reflected. "Okay, I wasn’t wrong to always be who I was, to be honest about who I was, even though I’m somebody who’s far from being perfect. It was a big shine of love."
Looking ahead, Argento is eager to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new challenges. "At this point in my life, I prefer the challenges that keep me curious and keep me alert," she said. "I’m always looking for new ways to express myself and make a difference through my work."
In conclusion, Asia Argento's journey is a testament to the power of creativity and self-expression. Her work, both in Death Has No Master and Gia - The Shadow of Beauty, showcases her commitment to exploring complex themes and challenging societal norms. As she continues to push boundaries, Argento inspires others to embrace their unique voices and make a lasting impact through their art.
