Oscar Winner's Quirks Inspire Italian Box Office Hit '18 Diamonds'

Italian director Ferzan Özpetek's latest film, "18 Diamonds," has achieved a remarkable box office phenomenon in Italy, earning approximately 600 million New Taiwan dollars. The comedy, which Özpetek directed and wrote, is described as a "revenge of the Italian film industry" and an "Avengers of Italian cinema." It tells the story of 18 top actresses and champions workplace feminism while challenging class structures.

"18 Diamonds" directly competed with the male-dominated Oscar contender "Secret Meeting" upon its release. Özpetek's film secured the top box office spot in its opening week and ultimately triumphed with nearly triple the earnings of its competitor, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. The movie draws inspiration from Özpetek's personal experiences as an assistant director in the 1970s, particularly his visits to legendary Roman tailoring workshops like Tirelli Costumi, which created costumes for masters like Fellini and Visconti.

A central character in the film is Bianca, an arrogant, demanding, yet talented Oscar-winning costume designer, portrayed by Vanessa Scalera. This character is based on the real-life eccentricities of Milena Canonero, a four-time Oscar winner for Best Costume Design. Canonero was known for her habit of arriving just before wrap-up, asking for "just five more minutes," which would often keep the entire crew working until midnight, a trait Özpetek humorously incorporated into the script.

To authentically recreate the film's settings, Özpetek filmed on location in Rome's historic Testaccio district. He even renovated an old building next to the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta to accurately depict a 1970s Roman tailoring workshop. During filming, the appearance of 18 actresses in vintage haute couture attracted numerous onlookers, resembling a major fashion week event.

"18 Diamonds" garnered 2.22 million viewers, drawing widespread praise and tears, solidifying its status as the year's most popular Italian box office hit. It received the highest honor, the "Audience David Award," at the Italian Oscars and was named "Film of the Year" by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists. The film was also selected as the opening film for this year's Taoyuan Film Festival and is set to premiere across Taiwan on August 21.

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I am interested in women's stories, especially stories with family, mother-daughter, or sister relationships.