A Film by Olga Montes and John Vamvas

Scarpedicemente is a passion project for filmmakers/actors/writers/producers Olga Montes and John Vamvas, which they initially wrote and toured as a critically acclaimed and Audience Favorite stage play over 25 years ago. Though left on the backburner for many years, the couple felt that the story could still resonate with audiences on several levels: not only as a dark comedy and homage to the many incredible films and actors that have shaped our pop culture and ourselves as people, but as an examination of the human condition (love, hate, revenge, mental illness, grasping at dreams, etc.). They also felt that they could give the stage version new life by telling a story that is in essence about cinema, as a movie. The couple thus decided to throw caution to the wind and self-finance a film adaptation – call it their mid-life crisis Ferrari!

Longtime friend, Victoria Sanchez-Mandryk, was hired to be behind the camera for the 10-day shoot (as John could not), contributing some beautiful elements (like the funhouse mirrors and clown wig and nose). DOP René Arseneau pushed that vision further thanks to his distinctive visual aesthetics and unique sense of composition and lighting. Award nominated Editor Jean-Denis Rouette brought in his own non-linear touches (influenced by Nicolas Roeg), infusing the visuals with a structure and style reminiscent of the different classic gangster movies Luigi and Holly embody to make sense of their world.

Scarpedicemente was shot in 10 days in August 2020 in Brossard, Quebec, Canada, in one room, during COVID-19 restrictions and everyone on set adhered to the strictest government guidelines. Every single person working on this film, from the writers/actors, directors, editor, composer, DOP and everyone else right down to the grip, is Canadian.