Mar 02, 2026
3 min read
Franco Batiato.In The Long Journey, Dario Aita plays the Sicilian singer-songwriter in an almost visceral way, completely calm in his character. The songs he can't listen to and the beauty of the responsibility is what lies in between, he tells us.
Thick hair, curls, thick glasses, a night in the recording studio: when Dario Aita appears on stage for the first time, in Franco Battiato's film.The long journey (published in Ray 1, March 1) is not known.The prince, who plays Franco Battiato in the film after the singer's career, changes so dramatically that when he sings the first notes of Fetus, he seems to be listening to a Sicilian singer.And this sense of alienation accompanies the viewer throughout the film: he knows that he is watching Aita interpret Battiato, but the gestures, movements, calm and balanced voice disturb the water.It is no longer possible to distinguish who is who and who is not.The director Renato De Maria talks about the translation, but he says something for Aita: "The third side, a kind of middle meeting between the translator and his character was created. Franco came to see Dario and Dario opened the doors for Franco to stay there.
Battiato's closest associates, such as Franz Catini, said there was something unusual and special about his performance.
"What happened was a miracle. I had this feeling even before the film was released. I knew something was going to happen during the filming."
"Franco visited me immediately, while I was reviewing this film. It was a pleasant and pleasant meeting that I immediately allowed to stay with him. So, even when the break was given and the working day ended, I went home and dreamed, not like Dario, but like someone else.
Which one do you think is best for you?
«There is a motto by the philosopher Slavoj Žižek that states that in the end we are nothing more than the masks we choose to wear. This is the character with which we decide to identify ourselves as actors. I wear so many masks that when people ask me “Who am I?”I don't know what to answer. I like being many people.It was only when I met Franco Battiato that I found a kind of center and it was a feeling that gave me a lot of peace.”
In this relationship with Battiato, what elements did you see in common?
"In a shared desire to explore myself and the spiritual realm. Before I played Franco, it was a topic that never got much space, it knocked on my door and I barely left a crack. Then I chose to leave the door open."
"Like him, I've resigned myself to wanting to succeed. For a long time I felt guilty about admitting to myself that I like to succeed, that I want to follow through."
When you play such a well-known character, do you feel pressured to live up to the standards that others impose on you?
"I believe that sense of responsibility, the weight of it, is a beautiful gift that life gives us sometimes. Especially in cases like this, where we have the opportunity to be involved in something that we can give back to the outside world. But at the same time, I'm not worried because I believe it would destroy my work and my character.
Si sarebbe bloccato davanti a una figura così iconica?
“Franco was quick to let go of some of the worries about approval.If I had them, I wouldn't work like he does.So I let them go too, knowing I was safe in what I was doing.Being Batiato is not only an act of self-control, of autofiction, but it was made possible thanks to those who believed in me and had faith."
However, this agreement will have problems and complexities.
"Absolutely yes. The first was song. It's a means of expression that I've never used, I've always kept it in the basement and I thought I'd easily spare my voice for people."
However, he was very authentic in singing Battiato's songs.
"I paid close attention to this point almost obsessively. Every day I sang Battiato poems and songs used in the film. So I listened to them dozens of times a day. It was really difficult."
In this epic drama, is there a song that has special meaning for you?
“The Shadow of the Light is a song I discovered before auditioning and I think it's one of his best pieces.It fascinates meIt was a song that really touched my emotions in a really strong way. In fact, after the audition,I never listened to it again.It was such a high that I couldn't listen to it like any other song.”
Back where we were: you only say one, what was the other problem?
"I'm working on the relationship with his mother, who was one of the nerve centers of Battiato's life. The biggest mistake an actor can make is to judge his character, but I honestly couldn't understand how someone as unconventional as Battiato chose to live his whole life with his mother, and let her take care of him. This thing made me turn my nose up."
"I left Palermo at the age of 19. As soon as I left home, I had no doubt that I would never return, that I would not live with my family. Batiat's choice was far from me. But I realized that it was a non-conformist choice that fully reflected him. When I realized this, it was very touching and liberating."
Many years have passed, but it means Battiato from Sicily.Is it the same for you?
"Absolutely yes. My identity as an islander played a decisive role in my spiritual and artistic education. Sicily is a place that seems to protect you, but at the same time does not allow too much outside influence. For me this always translated into a strong drive to escape. The same was true for Batiato: first Milan, then he traveled around the world, but towards the end of his life he felt the need to return to his homeland."
Now that you can no longer see yourself according to your words, what is left of Battiato?
"I've tried to maintain a life so dense, so full of learning that it's destroyed me from time to time. But I've allowed everything to take root and settle in me. So I hope all of this has benefited my personal growth and construction path."
And for you, was your job a career you couldn't escape from?
"I never had this iron will to follow a certain path. I let myself be guided more by events. I knew how to seize opportunities when they presented themselves to me. I think that's what happened in my life: sometimes things happened almost by chance or seemingly by chance, but then I worked to keep them going in that direction."
When I hear you talk about yourself and your work, I think you suffer from imposter syndrome.
"I've had it for a while, there have been many times when people have complimented me, and I secretly thought, 'Maybe they don't understand. Maybe it's good.'
Talking about the past tense...you don't have it anymore?
"Not with this project. I don't feel like an impostor, I know I gave it my all and I did a great job.
