Entering the mechanism of a fairy tale: Pierfrancesco Favino's short film

What is the idea behind the short film?

The desire was to be able to tell the enormity of the history of the maison and what it represents. But also to communicate something extremely concrete, linked to manual work, passion, patience and challenge, both towards nature and technology. And, of course, to the pleasure of making beautiful products. I am happy to be associated with this occasion.

How long does it take you to get into the part?

In my work you have to be ready to the minute. It really depends on the part and, to keep with the watchmaking theme, it depends on the complications.... There are roles and scripts that you perhaps feel closer to and are more in tune with the thoughts and emotions you have to convey. Others in which you need to prepare yourself more thoroughly. And then, when it comes to playing people who really existed, personality comes into play and not just physical appearance: since they are already known, you cannot betray them.

November saw the cinema release of The Master in which you play a tennis coach. Perfect timing, since it is the sport on every Italian's lips...

Yes, but it is actually the first screenplay that Andrea Di Stefano (also director, ndr.) had written: we are talking about over 15 years ago, so when Italian tennis was not experiencing a golden period. What I like is that at a time in history when great performances are required of everyone, this film tells the praise of imperfection. It's a comedy like perhaps they used to make some time ago, which is first of all funny and then gently reflective.

Nelle foto, Pierfrancesco Favino indossa il Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, lanciato quest’anno, con cassa e bracciale in oro sabbiato e un inedito movimento automatico che rivisita la complicazione del calendario perpetuo (170 mila euro). Lo scorso 13 novembre, questo orologio ha vinto l’Iconic Prize al Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

With which contemporary Italian directors with whom you have not yet worked would you like to do so?

With Matteo Garrone, Paolo Sorrentino and Paolo Virzì..

And with which foreigners instead?

Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Justine Triet, Joachim Trier, Xavier Dolan, Damien Chazelle... then of course with the greats like Martin Scorsese: the list could be too long. But then I ask myself: would they ever take me? Would I be suitable for their cinema?

A cult film?

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore.

You have been present in many foreign productions...

It is very nice to be part of it. For example, on the set of Maria (released in 2024 on the story of Maria Callas, ndr.) we were about 12 different nationalities, each with its own tradition, its own language: to work together like that, especially at this historic moment, is something that moves me.

L’ultimo film uscito in sala di Pierfrancesco Favino è Il Maestro, diretto da Andrea Di Stefano, in cui interpreta un maestro di tennis. ©PABLO ARROYO

A curiosity. What kind of commitment was it to dub a three-time Oscar-winning sacred monster like Daniel Day-Lewis?

In the film Lincoln, both he and Steven Spielberg listened to the reel I dubbed each time and then said if it was OK. If you see it in the original, you realise that Day-Lewis had tried to reconstruct Lincoln's voice, which you know was not exactly pleasant. I realised that he moved his mouth in a certain way to do it. I sent him questions and he confirmed my intuition. It was a very formative experience because he is an incredible actor.

From haute horlogerie mechanics to technology: do you use social media?

At my age and with the habits that are part of the former world, I perceive reality differently and I think I am able to distinguish. I am not just talking about reading a newspaper or getting information. Those who don't have these tools, in my opinion, are in great difficulty today because, whether we like it or not, social networks are becoming the place of lies, of success even when there is none, and of the imposition of an image of a certain type. I find them very shouty. At least that is my impression. Of course, you can't not watch them if you want to understand what's going on, but when I come out of them I don't have a feeling of great pleasure: it's a bit like I feel pushed out of them. I don't know if what I said makes me fall into that category called by that ugly, much abused word that starts with a B and ends with an R...