Skip to main content

Francesco Rosi to be Honored at Indiana University Film Symposium


On January 10, 2015, the world said goodbye to one of the most innovative filmmakers it has ever seen, Francesco Rosi. Sadly, he was to make a visit stateside in April where he was to be honored as this year's artist in residence at Indiana University's annual Symposium on Modern and Contemporary Italian Cinema.

Born in Naples on November 15th, 1922, director, Francesco Rosi studied law but always had a passion for film. In 1948, he put his law degree aside and leaped into the film industry as an assistant for the legendary director Luchino Visconti. Four years later in 1952, he debuted as a director with his own film, Camicie Rosse (Red Shirts). It proved to be a successful debut and caught the attention of international audiences. However, it was his 1958 film, La Sfida (The Challenge) that solidified his place in the industry as a director and paved the way for more politically driven films with strong social statements.In a career that has spanned more than half a century, Rosi has made less than two dozen films. 

When asked why he wasn't more prolific in his filmmaking, he had this to say: "It takes time to pick the subject I wish to deal with and the way to do it. The films that I have made stem from my own urges, ideas and proposals. It takes time to decide on a subject for a film that is going to take one and a half years of your life to make." Perhaps that is why his films are so intense and filled with passion and meaning.  Let's take a look at a few examples.


Made in 1962, Salvatore Giuliano is the tragic true story of a Sicilian peasant whose social status led him to become an infamous bandit. He has been just as controversial in death as he was in life. He’s been compared to Robin Hood, as he was known for helping poor villagers by taking from the rich. Rosi told his story in an epic film that showed the harsh realities of a peasant and the plight to preserve one’s pride and acquire the basic needs for survival. The story in Rosi’s film takes place right after the liberation of Sicily. Never before was Sicily represented in film with such exact realism and attention to detail. This stems from a fair and historic judgment of the Giuliani case on Rosi’s part.


Inspired by true events, Cristo si è fermato a Eboli (Christ stopped in Eboli) is the story of Carlo Levi, a painter and doctor ordered into forced residence by the fascist government of 1935, and sent to a remote village in Basilicata. The 1978 movie was adapted from a novel written by Carlo Levi himself, and shows the desolate land and simple living by its inhabitants. When Levi got off the train, he was shocked to see such a culture still existed. It seemed time had stopped hundreds of years ago. But he adjusted to their way of life and used his skills to make their lives easier. Although the plot is driven by political events, it's a story about human struggle and how one man can make a difference. 

Tre Fratelli (Three Brothers) is a touching story covering three generations. When Donato, an elderly peasant, is left alone in his farmhouse after the death of his wife, he telegraphs the news to his three sons, who have all moved to different cities for work. Upon learning the sad news, the three make their way home to meet at the farmhouse. The night before the funeral, they all stay up to talk about their memories, their fears, their dreams and their lives as adults. The film was made in 1980 and the conversation between the brothers focuses on contemporary issues, so it really offers a glimpse into life in the south during that time. Tre Fratelli earned an Academy Award nomination in 1981 for Best Foreign Film.


Master Class with Giuseppe Tornatore and Francesco Rosi at 2013 Taormina Film Festival
In the last years of his life, Rosi showed no signs of slowing down. He was a regular at film festivals around the world right up until the end- whether offering his expertise as he did when he teamed up with director Giuseppe Tornatore for a "Lezione di cinema" at the 2013 Taormina Film Festival or when he was honored at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival where he received the Golden Bear award for Lifetime Achievement.

Watching a Francesco Rosi film is like traveling back in time. His work offers rare insight into the lives of his characters in circumstances often based on or inspired by real life events.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Anna Foglietta: Actress and Activist with Old School Elegance

One look at actress Anna Foglietta in her any of her roles, and the Golden Age of Italian cinema comes to mind. Among Italy’s most sought-after actresses today, Foglietta brings to the table a classic eloquence of yesterday while representing Italy’s modern woman. Born in Rome in 1979, Foglietta began her career in 2005 with a role in the RAI television series La squadra . Her character Agent Anna De Luca had a two-year run on the series as she was transitioning to cinema with Paolo Virzì’s 2006 ensemble project 4-4-2- Il gioco più bello del mondo . Since then, she has become one of Italy’s most diverse actresses, transforming herself into interesting, layered characters for comedies and dramas alike. Aside from a small part in Anton Corbijn’s 2010 film The American starring George Clooney, Foglietta’s work began reaching mainstream American audiences in 2015. As Elisa in Edoardo Leo’s 2015 comedy Noi e la Giulia , Foglietta showed her funny side playing a goofball pregn

The Life and Work of Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci as Malèna Born in Umbria in 1964, Monica Bellucci is one of the most recognizable faces of international cinema. But she didn't always have her sights set on the spotlight. She went to college to study law and modeled to pay her tuition. Her success in the fashion world coupled with the offers that were pouring in to appear on the big screen eventually took over, changing her fate. Bellucci made her on-screen debut in the 1990 television movie, " Vita coi figli." Just two years later, she scored her first American role in Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula."   In addition to her native language, she speaks fluent English and French, which has made for a smooth transition from Italian to international cinema. Stateside, she has acted in blockbusters such as "The Matrix-Reloaded,"     " The Passion of the Christ" and " The Sorcerer's Apprentice." She has also appeared in several French films, a

Pasolini's Playground of Roman Ruins

Anna Magnani in a scene from "Mamma Roma" Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1962 “Mamma Roma” starring Anna Magnani , follows the title character, a Roman prostitute determined to change her life and give her son the opportunities she never had. She seizes the opportunity to leave her life on the streets behind when her pimp (Franco Citti) gets married and frees her from his possession. Mamma then goes to the small provincial town of Guidonia to fetch her son, Ettore (Ettore Garofolo), and bring him to Rome to embark on their new life together. She buys a pushcart, finds an apartment in a nice neighborhood, and uses her connections to secure him a job in a restaurant. However, Ettore gets mixed up with boys who are petty thieves and is negatively influenced by them. At the same time, Mamma Roma’s pimp resurfaces and sends her back to the streets. When Ettore learns about his mother’s prostitution, he goes astray and wholeheartedly joins in on the petty crimes of the boys. One day, while

Stefano Natale- the Charismatic Muse behind Carlo Verdone's Iconic Characters

The beauty of Italian cinema lies in the diversity of its genres and styles. Although the ’80s have received its share of criticism for its less-than-profound output, it was the decade in which contemporary maestro Carlo Verdone emerged as a creative young director and actor. The characters he brought to life during those years became permanent fixtures in Roman pop culture. Films like “Un sacco bello,” “Bianco, rosso e Verdone,” and “Borotalco” gave birth to the iconic Mimmo, Leo and Sora Lella.   Enter Stefano Natale, the real-life muse behind Leo and Mimmo. Natale was the subject of a documentary presented at the 2015 Festa del Cinema in Rome. One of four protagonists in Luca Ferrari’s “Showbiz,” he is a soft-spoken gentle giant who recalls his life with Verdone and the creation of his characters in a nostalgic, affectionate manner. “Verdone and I grew up together in the same building near Ponte Sisto,” Natale recalls. “Our grandmothers were cousins, and for 30 years we saw each o

Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni.. What cinema dreams are made of

The Toronto International Film Festival is wrapping up its retrospective of the cinematic collaboration of husband and wife team, Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni. Over the last few days, the couple have participated in discussions, Q & A sessions and have introduced several of their films. Today, I attended a screening of "La voce della luna" (The voice of the moon). It was  Federico Fellini's last film and is a wonderful tribute to the director's signature poetic madness. The film gave Benigni the opportunity to team up with fellow beloved comic, Paolo Villaggio, and the two created a truly unforgettable adventure. Today's screening began with an introduction by Benigni. The moments leading up to his introduction were noticeably serious and somewhat tense. Benigni's publicist and TIFF security staunchly guarded his privacy. There was no interaction and no photos were allowed. Guided by his entourage, he walked quickly from the Green Room to th