Actor bemoans fellow Italians who shun simple jobs, left to immigrants even in tough times

VENICE, Italy – The star of a new film celebrating the dignity of manual labour is lamenting that many of his fellow Italians shun traditional trades like carpentry, leaving such jobs to immigrants even during stubborn economic crises.

The bittersweet comedy “L’Intrepido” (The Intrepid) is one of 20 films competing for the top prize at the Venice Film Festival. Its veteran star, Antonio Albanese, plays a rare character these days in Italy: a man who cheerfully throws himself into any job he can get in the unemployment-plagued country, from sous-chef to pizza deliveryman.

In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Albanese called manual labour noble work.

Director Gianni Amelio told the AP that difficult times demand a film about someone who cares about working, not about wealth or social hierarchy.