Enzo Jannacci: the documentary "Vengo anch'io" by Giorgio Verdelli airs on Rai5

On Thursday 14 May at 9:20 pm, Rai5 (with a repeat later on RaiPlay) will air the documentary “Enzo Jannacci – Vengo anch'io” by Giorgio Verdelli, which we covered in depth a while back in this feature. The film, which premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, offers a portrait of the man Paolo Conte called “the greatest Italian singer-songwriter”. It does so by taking viewers aboard an old tram through a timeless Milan, drawing on extraordinary archival material, much of it previously unseen, prestigious testimonies from friends and colleagues, and skilful editing that turns Jannacci himself into the film's narrator.

An immense and often unpredictable talent, Enzo Jannacci, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 77, moved through countless different genres because he himself was a “genre”. His keen sensitivity, both artistic and human, translated over the years into a constant flow of linguistic and musical invention that allowed him to move with mastery between singer-songwriter fare and cabaret, rock'n'roll and jazz, theatre and cinema. Among the key moments explored are his collaborations with his friend Giorgio Gaber and with Dario Fo, his encounter with Cochi & Renato, as well as his adventures on stages, in theatres and basement clubs, and the medical calling he might perhaps have liked to pursue further — all recounted in his own words, drawn from a previously unpublished interview he gave to Giorgio Verdelli himself in 2005.

Many are the fellow travellers who enrich the narrative with unknown anecdotes: from Diego Abatantuono to Cochi Ponzoni, Massimo Boldi and Nino Frassica, as well as accounts from colleagues such as Paolo Conte, Roberto Vecchioni and Paolo Rossi. The film also features the extraordinary testimony of Vasco Rossi. And then there's J-Ax's affectionate tribute, the memories of Claudio Bisio, Dori Ghezzi, Dalia Gaberscik, Paolo Tomelleri, Gino & Michele, photographer Guido Harari, his regular director Ranuccio Sodi and Fabio Treves, as well as the heartfelt admiration expressed by Francesco Gabbani, Valerio Lundini and Elio, who also created a stage show about Jannacci.

The most intimate and poignant moment, however, belongs to his son Paolo, seated at his father's piano. Paolo actively contributed to the film, recording an instrumental version of "Vengo anch'io" and one of "Lettera da lontano", and made his personal archive available.

OndaRock also features a milestone dedicated to Jannacci, for his album "Quelli che...".

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