On July 5, 2021, the news of Raffaella Carrà's death resonated in the deep stillness of her privacy. The announcement was an abrupt and moving shock, which resonated with the press and the public. For many, the departure of a figure who, in many ways, symbolized the evolution of the country by interacting directly with each viewer, felt like a loss. Carrà, with his ability to integrate into the everyday history of Italians, became a page in a shared narrative.
In response to this, friends, colleagues, family and those who shared moments with her joined forces to contribute to a documentary that was intended to be more than a simple celebration. The intention was to capture a final portrait of the woman, the character and, transversally, the reality on which she significantly influenced.
Stars: Marco Bellocchio, Emanuele Crialese, José Luis Gil
Two years ago, the news of Raffaella Carrà's death was etched in memory on a hot July afternoon. She marked goodbye to a character deeply rooted in popular culture and in her individual memories, transcending personal and universal journeys. After decades of work and television triumphs, Italy realized the extent to which Raffaella Carrà had become a living icon for more than a couple of generations.
Therefore, Daniele Luchetti's decision to make a documentary about her is not surprising. “Raffa” attempts to capture, through archival images and her own words, the radiance that this vibrant woman emanated through the small screen. While some may perceive Carrà solely as a successful showgirl, the documentary, as evidenced by her reviews, reveals her as a catalyst for significant change regarding women and beyond. In this sense, the documentary is destined to become one of the most convincing projects on Disney+. After a brief theatrical run from July 6 to 12, the film will have an extended life on the streaming platform.
Raffaella Carrà, the wild girl of Canzonissima, the blonde icon of Italian television, the professional, the author and the hostess of the morning rooms: she embodied all these roles and more throughout her extensive career. Maintaining a connection with her healthy and joyful Romagna roots, she conveyed personal elegance, honesty and integrity that endeared her to the public. Despite the belief that television screens can distort the truth, Carrà's authenticity shone through for those who looked the right way.
In addition to her multifaceted personality, Carrà played a modern and disruptive role, perhaps unconsciously, in the sixties and seventies. Emerging like a tornado from the beaches of Bellaria Igea Marina, she disrupted the rigid structure of the prudish and self-righteous national television. Her famously exposed navel, relegating opaque and punitive stockings to obscurity, propelled the female body toward a consciousness free of the concept of sin.
Moving to the rhythm of “Rumore, Rumore,” she became the voice of female sexual independence, sparking a personal revolution in customs. Carrà's open and reassuring smile, along with her obvious but non-threatening beauty, endeared her to Italians, making her their most beloved.
Describing a personality so transparent yet loaded with meaning poses a challenge. To avoid falling into classic hagiography, Luchetti alters the narrative flow starting on July 5, 2021, the day of Carrà's death. This change allows the director to begin with a collective shock that merges with the personal pain of those who loved her privately. Together, these forces illuminate the emotional, professional and social void left by Raffaella.
This absence serves as a starting point to define the incredible stage and human presence that characterized her and that she does not seem to want to fade into oblivion. Contrary to the public clamor for her success, Carrà's silent march is revisited, retreating to a past equally devoid of noise, at least in terms of general approval. In reality, her life was always full of vibrant vitality within a Roma family of strong and resilient women. Noticeably absent is her father figure, but he never acted as an obstacle to her ambitions.
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