Exclusive: First Poster & Clip From ‘Spettacolo,’ From The Makers of ‘Marwencol’

In 2010, the award-winning “Marwencol” took the documentary world by storm, making several best-of-the-year lists, and landing in Entertainment Weekly’s “50 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen.” So powerful was the film about the life and work of artist and photographer Mark Hogancamp, Hollywood sat up and took notice. Robert Zemeckis is set to direct a feature film version of the story starring Steve Carell, and it could be an awards player.

Now, “Marwencol” director Jeff Malmberg is back, with his producer Chris Shellen, for their latest effort, “Spettacolo.” “Spettacolo” debuted at SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, and this time, Malmberg co-directed the picture with Shellen marking her first feature-length documentary credit. Looking to bring in real world drama with a similar sense of melancholy, the documentary looks to be a fresh look at cultural traditions, pride and tragedy. Here’s the synopsis:

Once upon a time, villagers in a tiny hill town in Tuscany came up with a remarkable way to confront their issues: they turned their lives into a play. Every summer, their piazza became their stage and residents of all ages played a part – the role of themselves. Monticchiello’s annual tradition has attracted worldwide attention and kept the town together for 50 years, but with an aging population and a future generation more interested in Facebook than farming, the town’s 50th anniversary performance just might be its last.  SPETTACOLO tells the story of Teatro Povero di Monticchiello, interweaving episodes from its past with its modern-day process as the villagers turn a series of devastating blows into a new play about the end of their world.

“Spettacolo” opens on September 6th.