Sean Penn and Joaquin Phoenix "who complimented me on my interpretation? I didn't know how to react, I didn't know them before... I had never thought of making films, my dream has always been football... In fact, when I met Chiellini cried with emotion and I would really like to meet Dybala."
Seydou Sarr, the 19-year-old debuting protagonist of I, Captain, tells it with a hint of a smile, connecting from Los Angeles together with the film's debuting co-interpreter, Moustapha Fall for a meeting on the emotions experienced on the eve of the Oscars, where Matteo Garrone's feature film about the contemporary Odyssey of two boys who leave Dakar to arrive in Europe, is competing for the statuette for best international film.
Still a little sleepy (it's morning), calm and tired from the weeks of promotion, full of events, in Hollywood, the two young Senegalese don't seem to feel too much pressure from the ceremony: "I take things as they come, they are more people around us feel a little anxious. Clearly we dream a little about winning, but it's really difficult, even if we deserve it" underlines Seydou.
The friend is equally incredulous: "my dream has always been to come to America and being here is a bit like closing the circle. I wanted to be an actor, but I never imagined I would find myself as a star going to the Oscars. Now I'm starting to get ready for the evening... and it makes me happy to be able to wear new clothes" explains Fall who also loves the world of fashion: "Here I met various designers, it was wonderful".
The long period in Los Angeles was tiring but exciting ("we learned many things and the warmth that comes from the people who saw the film is exciting"), but also difficult, "because we are without mom and dad".
Their families fully support them, "they are very proud of us" they explain.
For the ceremony "as Muslims, we entrust ourselves to fate, they will certainly also make prayers... to accompany us to the event. In this period they are supporting us a lot and have given us advice to avoid getting lost" in all this.
Seydou adds that "my mother and my sister understand well what we are doing here, they have done theater, and they were with me on the set. It's a bit like I was making their dream come true too."
Among the many memories linked to the last extraordinary months there is also that of their arrival in Italy: "I knew it from Instagram and for me it was a beautiful country - says Seydou -.
When I came, however, I also saw other aspects, such as the people sleeping on the benches, the homeless..." However, "the emotion of the first time in Rome is unforgettable". Before the film "I didn't know Italy or the 'Europe - observes Moustapha - I lived in a poor neighborhood and I didn't even have a telephone.
I thought everything was perfect with you, I didn't know the suffering that can also be found in Europe... we were lucky not to experience those situations". The film that began its triumphant journey at the Venice Film Festival, he also met, among others, Pope Francis: "I didn't really understand what he was telling me also because I don't speak Italian well - says Seydou candidly -.
But he hugged us a lot and gave us a little gift, the papal medal". Dreams for the future? "I live day by day, we'll see if cinema will continue... the dream for me remains football."
Moustapha is also leaving " things are up to fate, I have many dreams, to be an actor, a singer, a dancer, or work in fashion." Would you like to continue living in Italy? "I would like to - replies Seydou - now I dream of Fregene, I can't wait to go back.
There in recent months we have lived at Matteo Garrone's mother's house.
I dream of having further chats with her and her ragù". ''In Senegal the film has already been released - comments the CEO of Rai Cinema Paolo Del Brocco -, but in April there will be a special screening with them and all the people who they worked on I, Captain. And then a tour will start that will bring the film, with a mobile screen, to some villages"
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