with Elio Germano, Alessandra Mastronardi, Ricky Memphis, Sergio Rubini
produced by Domenico Procacci
produced by Fandango, Warner Bros. Ent. Italia, Ogi Film, in association with Banca Popolare di Vicenza, with the support of Regione Lazio
International Sales: FANDANGO
Rome, October 2, 2013 - THE FIFTH WHEEL by Giovanni Veronesi will be the Opening Film of the 8th edition of the Rome Film Festival (October 8 to 17). Starring Elio Germano (2007 Palm D'Or for Best Actor) and Alessandra Mastronardi (last seen in Woody Allen’s "To Rome with Love"), Veronesi’s encompassing drama depicts the tidal changes of the last 40 years in Italian history, from black and white television in the 1960s, to the gloomy colors of the 1970s, the yuppie period of the 1980s, to the Berlusconi era of the 1990s constructing a bridge towards the third millennium.
Growing up in the rough suburbs, Ernesto Marchetti is brought up short when his father declares in front of everybody: “You are nothing but the fifth wheel.” This proverb becomes the simple and bitter concept for his life. He is a person who does not count, a common man, taking whatever job comes his way to make ends meet – upholsterer, kindergarten cook, mover, truck driver, movie extra. Inseparable from his truck, Ernesto roams through all of Italy, upstairs and downstairs and becomes an unwitting participant in the scandals and dishonesty, hopes and delusions of Italian society from the 60s to the beginnings of the Berlusconi reign in the 90s. An innocent of sorts, he is one of history’s extras who goes along with whoever is in power, focusing on family and friends and never quite noticing how he is being used.