Isabella Rossellini, at age 52, has become the darling of Dominican press as she stars as the adult Urania in the filming of The Feast of the Goat, currently being shot in the DR. The project is based on Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa?s work of historical fiction on Dominican dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Rossellini has been in the country since 21 October, marking her second stay in the DR. In an interview with Hoy newspaper, the actress recalled that her first time in the DR was spent working as a fashion model with Oscar de la Renta at a Casa de Campo event.
Rossellini said she would agree to participate in a Dominican film if the production had a good director and an interesting script.
The Feast of the Goat intertwines three stories: that of the Trujillo dictatorship, the history of those who sought to assassinate him and the life of Urania Cabral, who, according to the story, lived in the DR until she was sexually abused by the dictator at 14. Urania?s parents then sent her to live in the US thanks to efforts of the St Dominic nuns working at the Colegio Santo Domingo. While the story is very Dominican-specific, Rossellini described the film as a ?portrait of all dictators.?
The film is being produced by a group that includes Luis Llosa, who is Mario Vargas?s cousin, Tomas Milian, who plays Trujillo, and others. The US$10-million movie, which is being filmed in English, next shifts its location to Spain. Dominican Jose Antonio Molina is responsible for the film?s music.
Book author Mario Vargas Llosa also visited last week to watch the filming.