For a year, every morning at 8, he accompanied his daughter to school and then showed up at work: «He was an innkeeper, one of the true ones. A true Roman who has always been very busy in the restaurant. That’s why on Friday when I didn’t see him arrive and he didn’t answer the phone, I knew immediately that something had happened ». The owner of Osteria Corsetti 1921 in Piazza San Cosimato a is still incredulous Trastevere. Where the actor Roberto Brunetti55 years old known as “Er PatataAnd found dead Friday night in his apartment perhaps from an overdose, he had been employed for a year. After spending his career in film in a flash, in 2015 he opened a fish shop. However, the business had failed and after difficult and dark months he had accepted the job in the restaurant.
The memory
“I met him here in the ward we’ve always frequented. During the pandemic I wanted to give him a hand because he deserved a chance – says the owner – of course he lived through ups and downs. I was prepared for this because I knew everything about his past. But I was sure he wasn’t taking drugs anymore, that he was clean. Also because her daughter lived with him and she would never put her in a dangerous situation: the other night, in fact, her little girl was with her mother. I can’t think – he still says – that just a week ago, right here, we all celebrated his birthday together: he was peaceful, he was fine. Finally he had economic stability. But I knew that he was still facing great frailties. And yet, when he was well, he was the soul of the place: he entertained the customers, always with a smile and a ready joke ».
Friends
In Piazza San Cosimato, the rumor of the tragic epilogue began to circulate as early as Friday in the early afternoon. When Brunetti didn’t show up at his little daughter’s school. Then the phone that rang empty until the dramatic discovery: «Roberto was everyone’s friend. Really a person with a heart of gold “says Federica Larici, owner of a bar not far from the square in the neighborhood:” He was really doing his best to turn the page, to leave behind the abuse of alcohol and drugs. We will miss him, he was one of the souls of the neighborhood that he has always frequented. During the last two years, more and more often until he started working in one of the clubs in the neighborhood ».
So the friends who had remained next to the successful fictional and film actor like “Criminal novel” by Michele Placido (2005). But also because of the two drug arrests – in 2009 and 2017 – it was a world that no longer belonged to him.
«The restaurant was his new set» comments Marianna Martucci who shared with Brunetti not only friendship but also the organization of some evenings. “She was in a very positive phase of his life, at least I thought so. Of course, he was rebuilding himself. She was divided between work and her little daughter, really hard to think it ended up like this. We were colleagues – she still says – but also friends. She told me that when he worked in the club, for him it was like being on the set of a movie: the customers were his spectators. He really seemed out of every lap and that he was finally back on track. But he had deep scars that marked him. Like the loss of his ex-wife, actress Monica Scattini. He did not forgive himself for not having been with her during her illness. They were very close but at that moment, Roberto was not in a position to assist her. Besides, he was worried about his little daughter’s future. He had separated from his mother and her child lived with him. He wanted her to be peaceful and happy. Instead now our friend is gone ».
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
–
–
