Marco Bellocchio ‘s “Se posso permettermi Capitolo II” (May I Say? Chapter Two), which has its world premiere Sunday in the Out of Competition section of the Venice Film Festival , has debuted a first clip (below). Rai Cinema is handling world sales.

The 30-minute film is a follow-up to the short film of the same name, which was produced in 2019 as part of the Fare Cinema (Making Cinema) training program.

The synopsis reads as follows: “Over the course of one day, Fausto, invincible in his inertia, watches a paradoxical procession of visitors pass by: the mellifluous village parish priest; a mysterious man with his absurd idea of a ghost-themed business; the captain of the Carabinieri who proposes a shotgun wedding with his daughter, who’s carrying the child of a stranger.

“Finally, late at night, a pair of thieves, working with Barbara, break into the house. Fausto catches them by surprise, his usual stoic and bored expression, and assures them: there's nothing left, no gold or paintings, everything has been sold. The three can only talk until dawn, when the thieves leave and Barbara starts the coffee. ”

In a statement, Bellocchio says: “‘Se posso permettermi – Capitolo II’ is a sad and (hopefully) amusing farewell to a house where I spent many years of my life (since childhood) and where I set many films (it is the house of ‘I pugni in tasca’). There, I can once again see the photographs of my uncles who died young. Pascoli looms large. A final (?) farewell from a man, Fausto, who is a part of me, my brother Alberto, my brother Piergiorgio, all my brothers and sisters and my children Pier Giorgio and Elena. Unlike Fausto, however, for better or for worse all of us have worked and still do, even though we are well past retirement age. Except my children.

“I conceived and wrote the film myself, but it was subsequently refined and partly rewritten with the students of the 2023 advanced film training course Bottega XNL – Making Cinema. Then filmed alongside the students and with talented professionals (like every year), and generously acted out by exceptional actors who quickly embraced their roles with fantastic outcomes. It has been a rewarding experience for everyone.”

Simone Gattoni of Kavac Film and Rai Cinema, along with Paola Pedrazzini of Fondazione Fare Cinema, are the producers.

Bellocchio’s first film “I pugni in tasca” (Fists in the Pocket), which won an award at Locarno in 1965, brought him to international recognition. In 2011, he received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.

In 2016, his film “Fai bei sogni” (Sweet Dreams) opened the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. “Il traditore” (The Traitor), presented in competition at Cannes in 2019, won six David di Donatello awards and seven Nastri d’Argento awards. In 2021, he showcased the documentary “Marx può aspettare” (Marx Can Wait) at Cannes and in the same year he received the Honorary Palme d’Or. In 2022, he returned to Cannes with the premiere of “Esterno notte,” honored at the European Film Awards and winner of four David di Donatello awards. In 2023, “Rapito” (Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara) competed at Cannes.