Actor Richard Brancatisano shot to fame as Italian Stallion Vitorrio on Home and Away, before moving to LA to star in the US Television series Chasing Life. He is now back on home shores to promote his new movie  Alex and Eve.

Brancatisano plays the lead character of Alex, a Greek Orthodox man who falls in love with a Lebanese girl of Islamic faith. What ensues is a journey of self discovery, comedy and plenty of romance. Richard says he hopes the movie generates cultural awareness and eliminates racial stereotypes.

‘It gives you an insight into two different cultures (including) the Muslim culture and their beliefs and their practices and you really walk away from the film loving it and understanding it more,’ the 31-year-old says.

The recent terror events in Sydney have done nothing to help the cultural divide that still exists: ‘It’s a very small minority that are being extreme and choosing violence and the less we generalise, the better. Generalisations are going to get us nowhere,” Bracatisano added.

The movie, which was filmed in Sydney’s Western suburbs, sees Richard’s and Andrea Demetriades’ characters (who plays Eve) fall in love to the disapproval of their strict parents. Many laughs are to be had as they both try to convince their parents that the stereotypes they have of each other’s cultures are false. The meeting of the parents is definitely one of my favourite scenes!

‘It really shows that it’s not just between the Aussies and the immigrants, it’s between immigrants and immigrants.
‘There’s racism everywhere,’ he said, but added that the film is truly about ‘two people’s love that overcomes this.
‘That’s the seed that changes these particular families,’ he explained.

The movie is directed by Peter Andrikidis with Alex Lykos as screen writer. It features a stellar cast of Australian talent including Tony Nikolopoulos,  Zoe Carides, George Kapiniarias and Ryan O’Kane.

Richard says it was wonderful to return home to shoot Alex and Eve after having been LA for some time filming ABC series Chasing Life. Unfortunately the series was cancelled earlier this month after two seasons.
‘It’s sad that the show’s over but at the same time that’s the industry and there’s so much out of your control,’ he said. ‘It was great to be on that show. It did help my profile a lot, but more than that it helped me find the comfort and a home in LA and in the US market.’

Before landing the role in Chasing Life, Bracatisano starred in Home And Away in 2010, playing Prince Vittorio Secca, the love interest of Lisa Gormley’s character Bianca Scott.
He has also starred in Australian shows Power Rangers Mystic Force, as well as Underbelly: Razor and Dance Academy.

Alex and Eve hits screens in Australian cinemas on October 22. Don’t miss it!

Images courtesy of The Daily Mail.