Insolera wrote, directed and produced the long feature superhero film Sign Gene. The film, shot between Japan, the US and Italy, centres on deaf superheroes who have the ability to create superhuman powers through the use of sign language. The characters are blessed with arcane powers "- like those, when signing the word 'close', of being able to make doors close at will; or where, when signing the word 'weapon', hands actually metamorphose into bona fide weapons, replete with spewing fire and all sorts." Originally starting out as a short film, it garnered such a groundswell of interest with people offering to become involved, that Insolera, upon realizing it had the legs for a shot at the big time, had to rewrite the script into a feature-length. The casting came by way of word of mouth: Insolera was especially looking for native signers fluent in Sign language. The film had its world premiere on September 8, 2017 in Milan, was released in theatres by the UCI Cinemas on September 14, 2017, had its US debut on April 13, 2018 and was released in Japan on September 14, 2018. The film was also presented at the Italian Pavilion, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic during the 71st Cannes Film Festival. Sign Gene received positive reviews from critics. On Los Angeles Times, Michael Rechtshaffen describes the “fresh, unique filmmaking voice” as a “fast-paced potpourri of stock footage combined with sign-language and stroboscopic action sequences performed by a deaf cast, video effects simulating grainy, scratchy film stock and that aforementioned all-enveloping sound mix, with an end result that proves as wildly inventive as it is empowering”. On Avvenire it reads the film “will mostly like to the younger generation accustomed to the rapid and psychedelic language of video games or Japanese cartoons”. Writing for ASVOFF, Giorgia Cantarini says the story is intricate and “very fascinating. The sounds create an unexpected important part, sometimes overwhelming who is watching. All happens very fast and astonishes you with a vibrant energy”. On Corriere della Sera, Michela Trigari calls Sign Gene an “experimental film” that uses the science fiction as a medium to capture the imagination and “make visible what is invisible to the eyes”. The film is making waves, and has inspired one Italian linguist to declare it “the symbol of activism for the visual community.” Insolera appeared on the cover of Tokyo Weekender’s November 2018 issue taken by worldwide known photographer Leslie Kee. During the same month, Insolera was featured on the main poster of Leslie Kee’s 20th anniversary photo exhibition “WE ARE LOVE” in Tokyo. In January, Insolera was featured in thirteen full pages fashion story on Vanity Fair Italia number 5 with Carola Insolera taken by Rosi Di Stefano. Starting from January 2019, Insolera collaborates with Striscia la notizia, an Italian satirical television program on the Mediaset controlled Canale 5 on the production of various shows. Striscia la notizia was ranked the most viewed television program of the spring season 2019 by Auditel.
Upcoming projects
In September 2019 it was announced that Insolera had joined the Simon Kinberg espionage 355 alongside Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyongo, Bingbing Fan, Edgar Ramirez and Sebastian Stan. Insolera will be playing a character called “Hacker”. The film is set to be released by Universal Pictures in 2021.
Personal life
He is in relationship with Norwegian model Carola Insolera, whom he met while in Tokyo.
Activism
Insolera collaborated with LISMedia and Mason Perkins Deafness Fund to the realization of various media resources in sign language. Along with researchers Elena Radutzky and Mauro Mottinelli, Insolera produced the first Italian Sign Language dictionary in video format.
Filmography
Film
Music video
“Flash” song written by Maria Eva Albistur's Santa Fe. Featuring Insolera
