Clive Owen And Paolo Sorrentino Lead (R)EVOLUTION To Film For Campari Red Diaries 2017
A scene from Campari Red Diaries’ Killer in Red Short Film(starring Clive Owen and Caroline Tillette). Shot by Ale Burset.
Yesterday, Campari officially unveiled the full campaign and the many stories that make up Campari Red Diaries; a holistic (r)evolution to the late Campari Calendar – in Rome – the symbolic hub of Italian cinema. The first edition of Campari Red Diaries shines a light on the experiences and emotions that inspire bartenders to create and share their craft; bringing to life the powerful ethos that “every cocktail tells a story” while celebrating cocktails as a form of art and a powerful vehicle for expression. Captivating month by month, Campari Red Diaries 2017 harnesses the richness of storytelling with bartenders as the narrators. Killer in Red, the pivotal piece of the project, is a brilliantly executed short film written and directed by the Italian internationally-renowned award winner, Paolo Sorrentino and starring Hollywood actor, Clive Owen.
Clive Owen, Star of the Campari Red Diaries’ Killer in Red Short Film, shot by Ale Burset
Campari is a contemporary and charismatic classic. The secret recipe, which has remained unchanged, originated in Novara in 1860 and is the base for some of the most famous cocktails around the world. Campari is an alcoholic spirit obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants, and fruit in alcohol and water. With its vibrant red color, intense aroma and inspiring flavor, Campari has always been a symbol of intrigue and pleasure, which unfurls itself into a captivating drinking experience. These are the values that have made the Campari brand famous throughout the world as an icon of passionate Italian style and excellence.
French/Swiss actress, Caroline Tillette, also known as ‘The Lady in Red’, Star of the Campari Red Diaries’ Killer in Red Short Film, shot by Ale Burset
Representing a step-change in the brand’s communication, Campari Red Diaries is a multi-layered campaign that celebrates cocktails as a powerful vehicle for expression by shining a light on the influences that inspire bartenders to share their craft.
A scene from Campari Red Diaries’ Killer in Red Short Film. Shot by Ale Burset.
Set in a high-end bar, the typically Sorrentino-esque noir sees Golden Globe winner Clive Owen move from ordinary man to take on the guise of Floyd, a notorious bartender back in the early 1980s, as Clive’s character imagines the story behind the creation of the eponymous cocktail creation, the Killer in Red. The film moves between two time periods, brilliantly portraying the high-energy zeitgeist of the time using a cast of more than 170 and through the use of original costume from the era.
The Killer in Red cocktail, shot by Ale Burset.
According to legend, Floyd has a talent for reading his clients and crafting them with the perfect cocktail for their character – as the story unfolds this so-called talent soon introduces him to the ‘Lady in Red’, played by French/Swiss actress, Caroline Tillette. Yet, as the story develops, the audience begins to suspect that the ‘Lady in Red’, is far more complex than Floyd could ever have expected. As with many of Sorrentino’s films, the film’s ending leaves the audience with the intrigue to draw their own conclusions, while reinforcing Campari’s ethos that every cocktail tells a story, with the bartender serving as the narrator.
Clive Owen, Killer in Red Star and Protagonist, comments: “Campari Red Diaries was a very easy project to say yes to – I loved the fact it was a short movie with a proper story as opposed to a commercial, while the fact it was being directed by Paolo Sorrentino was also a great attraction. I think Sorrentino is one of the best directors out there – an imaginative visionary.”
Paolo Sorrentino, Director and Screenwriter of Killer in Red (Photo Credit: Ale Burset)
Paolo Sorrentino, Director and Screenwriter of Killer in Red, adds: “I am proud to have been involved in this Campari project for two reasons – mainly because of all the other incredible artists that had the privilege to work with the brand in the past – my name is now mentioned in the same breath as Depero, Fellini, and others, even if it probably shouldn’t. I am also proud because this project, at least in Campari’s intentions, is unusual – I like being involved in pioneering projects.”
A scene from Campari Red Diaries’ Killer in Red Short Film. Shot by Ale Burset.
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