Schlein was ready to celebrate her cinema bill, but Conte’s M5S is sabotaging it

Action! But with Conte, there’s no filming. Schlein is being thwarted on Ukraine and also on cinema, her passion, her refuge: "If things go wrong, I’ll become a director". The story – or rather, the short film: on Thursday, the last day of the parliamentary session before the recess, a vote was due on the first bill drafted by Schlein; the secretary even had her speech ready, but the M5S and the INPS brought the camera to a standstill. The text is perfect, unified, negotiated with Meloni and the majority: in short, everyone agrees, but… In the Budget Committee, the M5S insists on putting its amendments to the vote right up to the very last moment, and the vote is postponed. Conte is like Godard.

The scene. A room. Kisses, goodbyes, “see you in September”, and then she, Elly Schlien, the protagonist. She strides forward happily in her red suit because she’s convinced that the cinema bill – her first piece of legislation – will be passed, so that one day she can say to Elio Germano: “Dear Elio, I’ve managed to set up the Film Agency.” To be honest, it was Matteo Orfini who did the painstaking work. A masterpiece. He managed to bring together FdI, Forza Italia and the opposition. In short, here we are. And you can tell from the fact that Antonio Monda, Bob De Niro’s friend – a journalist and writer – is also in the Chamber, presenting his latest book (do buy it) to Gianni Cuperlo. What’s happening? A change of shot.

Corridor, smokers’ area, vapers. Schlein flicks through her papers; her social media manager is standing by her side because she is ready to announce that the Elly Act is coming to the big screens. Opinions are needed from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the State Accountant, and the ‘state swan’, Daria Perrotta, another cinephile. And the opinions arrive, despite everything. All that’s missing are those from the Ministry of Labour and the funding from the INPS. And this is where things get complicated. At least that’s how they tell it in the PD: “The new agency would strip powers from the Lega, which holds the portfolio for the Ministry of Digital Innovation.” These are minor delays and are understandable if they stem from the government; it’s a different matter if the M5S gets in the way. It can still be done – so much so that journalists have been alerted to stand by – but the parliamentary proceedings will need to be extended.

The camera pans once more to the Budget Committee, and here comes the surprise: the M5S resubmits its amendments and asks for them to be put to the vote. But if there’s an agreement, why bring it up again? They aren’t put to the vote because the PD, with grace, realises that the matter cannot be taken to the Chamber and that the M5S is simply enjoying making a fuss. Schlein resigns herself to the situation and folds up the papers containing her speech.

Is the glass half full? The bill has been postponed until 9 September, right in the middle of the Venice Film Festival. In practice, Schlein could head to Venice and bask in the applause of the directors – her own crowd – saying: ‘Here is my bill for you’. One small detail, though: why would the government grant her such a platform, of all times? After Nolan, Schlein: the Odyssey of a bill opposed by Conte-Poseidon. In the meantime, a word of advice: better to stop off at Calypso’s island. Rumour has it that in Genoa there is a council and a mayor who is ready to soothe the wounds of the poor left-wing voter (and spectator)… The film, needless to say, is "Sapore di Salis".