Who is Eleonora Puglia?
Who is Eleonora… Good question. I often ask myself the same. The automatic answer that would come to me is a woman who is trying to find her own place in a world deeply wounded and violated by a dysfunctional system, in which human beings have lost their own consciousness. If I were to be specific, I would define myself as a young artist who uses her art to leave something beautiful in the world. What I would like is to be able to leave a mark, a memory, and give rise to a change in a historical era in which intelligence has become a fault and sensitivity a flaw. We find ourselves at a moment when political correctness taken to the extreme has led to a real castration of art. What I would try to do through acting and directing is to tear off the so-called Veil of Maya… Today you can’t have an autonomous thought; if you’re outside the norm you become a problem and not an added value… Deep down, I would say I am a dreamer with an accountant’s mind.
When you hear the word “soul,” what immediately comes to mind?
When I think of the word ‘soul’, my mind travels between purely technical, philosophical notions that were part of my academic-university training, and what I feel intuitively. I believe that human beings are the product of a duality, from a nihilistic perspective, between their animist side—which falls within the realm of empathy—and the pragmatism that increasingly leads toward darkness, a darkness that, as a sentient being, hides; a darkness so deep that if nourished it completely annihilates the soul. Today, more than ever, the media and the puppeteers who hide behind governing powers are trying to distance us from our consciousness, in order to render us obedient marionettes and deeply apathetic. Therefore, today more than ever, we artists have the responsibility to bring humanity toward its transcendent part that lifts us toward ‘God’, understood as all that concerns love, beauty, culture, and eternity.
Tell us about your projects.
This has been a very important year for me because it was the year in which I was able to bring my debut work Blue to life, with a strong theme like that of online erotic platforms, and as an actress I finally ventured into comedy, having been among the protagonists of the film Prendiamoci una Pausa, directed by Christian Marazziti, in which I acted alongside big names such as Marco Giallini and Claudia Gerini. To date, I am working on my second project as a director, which will address the MeToo movement from another perspective.
What don’t you like about the world, and what would you change?
Actually, the world created by Mother Nature is the emblem of beauty and perfection; what I dislike is the system that created human beings, in which they have gradually moved further away from their origins… A system that has given rise to elites who rule through unacceptable and corrupt financial systems and with extreme violence. People seem almost numb; they do not often realize the historical-cultural decay we are living through. They seem to have lost their critical spirit, and when confronted with someone who, instead, holds an ideal, they become aggressive because they are struck at their core and lack the tools to express a meaningful concept. All of this is the result of years in which the media have carried out a meticulous job to distance us from our intimacies and drag us toward a materialism with very negative implications. Only a few today truly see and feel that something isn’t working, and they are considered anarchists, conspiracy theorists who are then systematically right.
When did you realize that Art would be at the center of your life?
From a very young age… At ten years old I began writing poems, and at eleven I started my artistic journey as a classical dancer, which from ages 15 to 18 became a real profession. Even in adolescence my interests were studying, culture, and art. I wasn’t interested in the more superficial aspects that a teenager usually pursues. I have always loved going to the theatre and reading books, rather than going to nightclubs. When I was eighteen, I discovered acting and directing, and understood that this would be my path.
What is your impression of WILD FILMMAKER?
In my view, it’s a smart move that keeps pace with the times. It manages to give voice to both the legends and emerging artists, and this is an extremely important aspect. Today more than ever it is crucial to give momentum to new voices without forgetting the past. Another important aspect is the clarity with which the content is presented, conveyed with great expertise and lucidity, so that it is accessible to everyone. The use of black and white automatically evokes a retro look that recalls the great post-neorealist cinema, placing you immediately in an elegant and refined world.
