BARI MOVIE
“Focaccia blues”
“Focaccia blues” is the true story of the "focaccia that ate the burger ". The movie is about a bakery of
Altamura, which in 2002 caused the closing of a McDonald's thanks to its focaccia, pizza and bread.
Around the main story various parallel events develop. We assist to the trip to America of the journalist
Onofrio Pepe, who wants to export Apulian focaccia into the reign of fast food. We enjoy the romantic tale
of love of a greengrocer and the story of a beautiful woman seduced by a stranger driving a yellow Corvette .
Within these frames several comic interludes are inserted and they are animated by famous musicians
and actors like Renzo Arbore and Lino Banfi or by special guests such as Nichi Vendola and Michele
Placido.
This film is made as a documentary. At the time, McDonald's was planning to open a store in Altamura,
Italy. The citizens thought it's a terrible idea. The filmmaker follows several of them as the story
progresses. The pplae town is place is apparently renowned for its “focaccia”. The townspeople can't
imagine why anyone would want to eat "fast “fast food" when their town provides such good food. A
subplot involves a stranger, Manuel, who arrives in a yellow s in his sports car, wearing a bright red
jacket (note the color). He tries to win the affections of Ms Rosa, but annoys everybody.
The scene switches back and forth a few times between Altamura and New York, where we see the
McDonalds Headquarters and Museum. There are "interviews" with many of the local inhabitants - shop
owners, bakers, restaurant owners, a movie theater owner, the local chief of police.
In the end, McDonald's just cancels the deal and goes away, and Manuel loses Rosa, when he doesn't
like her focaccia (one of the best scenes in the movie).
It's a good look at Italian culture. One bit through the interviews shows the city rivalry between two men
from different cities.
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