Vita Gazette

News from Italy

Let Emily be the cause of the wars!

by Ayfer Selamoğlu

Netflix’s popular series “Emily in Paris” started a diplomatic war. It was delightful to see Emily come to Rome, my last love, after Paris, my first love. Emily first took us on a fascinating tour of the city of light, and in the previous two episodes of the series, she showed us the joy of life in the immortal city of Rome. But it wasn’t like that for everyone!

Regarding the possibility of the next season of the series continuing in Rome, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would make efforts for the shooting of the series, in which his wife Brigitte Macron also participated, to continue in his country, that is, for Emily to return to Paris. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said, “Doesn’t Macron have more pressing matters to worry about? “Emily is good in Rome,” he replied.

The “I won’t lose Emily” battle had begun, and the reason was again economic. Directed by Darren Star, the series tells the adventures of Chicagoan Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, at the luxury marketing agency in Paris and the cultural shock she experiences. Paris and its surroundings were so famous in the series that events such as “Emily Tours” quickly became popular in France. The series reminded Paris and Parisian life and contributed to the country’s economy.  According to a French National Center for Cinema and Animation (CNC) survey, approximately 38 per cent of tourists counted the series among their reasons for visiting Paris.

This is real, funny, fashion, and fantasy rolled into a great binge-watch. The show is beautifully shot and makes everyone want to visit Paris. “Emily in Paris’s” Rome scenes were beautiful, too. Emily is on Vespa, spreading the scent of Rome that made her fall in love at first sight worldwide. Rome looked dreamy, and I love it when the world sees the gorgeous Rome.

For example, my friends from all over the world asked me about Roman scenes. Rome looks gorgeous! I want to come to Rome immediately. Was it filmed on-site? Or is it movie magic?

“Emily in Paris” was shot in Rome, mainly in the historic centre like The Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza di Venezia e Getto. And the restaurant Giggetto al Portico d’Ottavia is real, where Emily was eating carbonara. Anyway, this 100-year-old restaurant in the Ghetto sits in the 2000-year-old Portico d’Ottavia, a gorgeous colonnade dedicated to Augustus’ sister. And Marcello’s home town. But Solitano, Marcello’s quaint little village, doesn’t exist. The borgo of Ostia Antica doubled for Solitano. This tiny medieval town is across from Ostia Antica Archaeological Park and Villa dei Ravennati.

After Paris, Emily created fascinating scenes in Rome, showing the city’s beauty around large tables and among warm people. This meant those who had never seen Rome would visit this Dolce Vita-like city as soon as possible, and those who had seen it would return to the town again.

As a result, for those who aren’t up on the “Emily in Paris Effect,” it’s the cultural phenomenon in which the Netflix series directly causes a surge in the popularity and romanticised perceptions of Paris and French culture—as if Paris wasn’t famous.

On the other hand, the same truth was valid in Rome. The idea of “living the Italian dream” had been going on long before Emily, and for that matter, before Hilary (The Lizzie McGuire Movie 2003) and Audrey (Roman Holiday 1953) made zipping around the Eternal City on a Vespa.

The fight between the two countries was happening for precisely this reason. The President of France and the Mayor of Rome started to argue with each other, as if “the beauty and charm of my city would beat yours.”

The leader of France, President Macron, emphasised in his interview with Variety magazine that he would not allow the series to be lost to Italy. “We will fight hard and ask them to stay in Paris!” said Macron, adding, “An Emily in Paris set in Rome does not make sense.” Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said: “Dear Emmanuel Macron, don’t worry: Emily is doing very well in Rome. The heart cannot be spoken to; “Let him choose,” he replied. Gualtieri: “Doesn’t Macron have more pressing matters to worry about?” He was drawing attention to international problems. “There are wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; There is a terrible hurricane linked to climate change. “These are European issues that are probably more important to Macron than Emily,” he said.

It is true. But the war to bring the series to the country, which started between two neighbouring countries, is very important because it gives the message, “Instead of bloody wars that are based on power and interests and benefits the arms industry, starts culture wars that move humanity forward and increase the quality of life.” Wars fought over art, culture and literature are good. It carries art, culture and history to eternity… It enables humanity to live under lights, not under weapons… Like Paris, the city of lights… Like the eternal city Rome…

In your opinion, which city should Emily stay in? Or which other cities should Emily visit to build a bridge of intercultural peace and communication?

 

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