Broadcast live from the Venice Lido, Alessandro Rak spoke with Alberto Crespi and Steve Della Casa on Hollywoodparty Rai Radio3 about the animated short film Rukeli, presented Out of Competition at the Venice Biennale.

The film, produced by AntropicA in co-production with Sideways Studios and Film i Väst, in association with Mad Entertainment and in collaboration with Rai Cinema, with the support of Film Commission Regione Campania and distributed by Premiere Film, is dedicated to Johann Wilhelm Trollmann.

Trollmann, known as Rukeli, meaning tree in the Romani language, was a Sinti boxer who won the middleweight championship title in Nazi Germany during the 1930s. An inconvenient champion whose memory the regime attempted to erase.

Today, thanks to Alessandro Rak’s animation work and the shared journey with the association Chi rom e chi no, Rukeli once again stands as a symbol of resistance and dignity.