Castello CavalcantiWes Anderson is at it again with his second branded film, Castello Cavalcanti, marketing the "Candy L’Eau" fragrance from Italian luxury fashion house Prada. Castello, like his and Roman Coppola's first installment for Prada, is set in Europe, only instead of France, takes place in a small Italian town circa 1955. The director's signature style is seen throughout the 8-minute short, however his specific nods to historical Italian cinema, namely the work of Fellini, offer an added bonus to Anderson's fans. Continue on to check out the short.


The story follows Jed Cavalcanti (Jason Schwartzman), a Formula One driver racing in the Molte Miglia, who just so happens to crash his race car in the square of the small Italian town of Castello Cavalcanti, which just so happens to be the birthplace of his ancestors.

The plot is simple, more so than that of Anderson and Coppola's first installment, Candy. However, like CandyCastello pays homage to European filmmakers that undoubtedly influenced both Anderson and Coppola. Slate did a great piece that reveals the many references made in the film: a Christ statue like the one from Fellini's La Dolce Vita, the race car driving like that in AmarcordEven Jed's great great grand uncle's name, Michelangelo, could be seen as a nod towards Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni.

Anderson-felliniLeft: A scene from La Dolce Vita. Right: A scene from Castello Cavalcanti.

AmarcordStill from Amarcord

Check out Wes Anderson's newest short for Prada below. (By the way, that arresting Italian beauty is Willem Dafoe's wife, Giada Colagrande.)

What do you think of Wes Anderson's latest ad for Prada? Can you spot any other possible homages to Italian filmmaking? Let us know in the comments.

Link: Wes Anderson Honors Fellini in a Delightful New Short Film -- Slate