Places of "Mery forever" - Palermo
Elisa Marianini - CC4.0
The film "Mery forever", and its sequel "Ragazzi fuori" were set entirely in the popular neighborhoods of Palermo.
Mery forever is a 1989 film directed by Marco Risi, starring Michele Placido and Claudio Amendola. It is based on the novel of the same name by Aurelio Grimaldi. The title is inspired by the story of Mery Libassi, a transsexual prostitute who is arrested for hurting one of her clients. The opera won the Efebo d'oro in 1989 as best director and the Ciak d'oro in 1990 as best film.
The film tells the story of Professor Marco Terzi, played by Michele Placido who accepts the little coveted assignment to the Rosaspina juvenile prison in Palermo. After a first hard impact, the professor manages to conquer all the children, both on an educational and human level. Two episodes upset the equilibrium created: the escape of one of the pupils and the transfer of a second to another school. The professor manages to win back the boys and decides to refuse the transfer.
Different places in the city of Palermo are recognizable in the film: the National Boarding School of Palermo is The Commissariat where Pietro Giancona, played by Amendola, is held, Palazzo Raffadali is the home of Professor Marco Terzi, the Concert Hall of the Institute of the Blind is the classroom where the professor accepts the task of teaching at Rosaspina. The long pursuit of Pietro Giancona crosses the streets of the city: Corso Alberto Amedeo, via Oreto, via del Noviziato, piazza Sant'Anna al Capo and via Porta Carini al Capo where it ends.
The continuation of Mery forever is Ragazzi out, a 1990 film directed by Marco Risi. The film won 2 David di Donatello 1991, as best director to Marco Risi and best producer to Claudio Bonivento.
The film, set in the popular districts of the city of Palermo, tells the story of some young criminals with no future who leave the reformatory after having served their sentence, and they face the difficulties and harshness of everyday life.
Among the scenes of the film we remember the one shot on the beach of Mondello where Natale, released from prison, accepts and wins a bet with his friends.
