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What destined Angiolino Ventura, a young Italian immigrant, to become a legend of French cinema? Nothing, apparently - especially since he considered acting to be a rather unserious profession... But chance does things well! In 1953, while he was looking for an actor with an imposing build to play opposite Jean Gabin in his next film Touchez pas au Grisbi, Jacques Becker spotted a wrestler nicknamed "The Italian Rocket": Lino Ventura. The filmmaker immediately offered him the role. Lino, not very attracted to the world of cinema, demanded (as a joke) to be paid the same as Gabin. To his great surprise, Becker accepted… A 30-year film career followed, alongside actors, directors and screenwriters such as Gabin, Belmondo, Audiard, Bernard Blier, Mireille Darc, Delon… and 75 films, in which he played police officers, spies or crooks in turn – A Taxi for Tobruk, Les Tontons flingueurs, Adieu Poulet, Garde à vue, to name but a few… Using archives and interviews, this four-handed documentary highlights the life and work of this colossus of the 7th art, with a humble and reserved character. Documentary: Lino, he was only himself Direction: Frédéric Zmochnikoff & Frédéric Chaudier Production: Flair Production #documentary #freedocumentary #portrait #cinema #linoventura #france #italy