Giovanna Taviani to present work in Rochester, New York

Italian filmmaker Giovanna Taviani will be in Rochester during the second week of November participating in a film series that will take place at area universities, Nazareth College and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Giovanna Taviani is the daughter of the iconic filmmaker, Vittorio Taviani.. one half of the filmmaking duo, the Taviani Brothers. Giovanna had a part in her father's 1984 film, "Kaos" but has chosen a path behind the camera as a director. My personal favorite is her 2010 documentary film, "Fughe e approdi" which showcases the cinematic magic of the beautiful Aeolian Islands where she grew up. Fortunately, that film will be shown in the series. I highly recommend it. Read our review and watch the trailer. She also founded the SalinaDocFest, an annual film festival held on the Aeolian Island of Salina that features documentaries and feature films with themes of human rights and relevant social issues.

I spoke with one of the organizers of the event, R.I.T. Professor Elisabetta Sanino d’Amanda. She told me that Taviani will be conducting various workshops with students and participating in several discussions about her work following screenings at R.I.T., Nazareth and the Dryden Theater. On Taviani’s work and carrying on the filmmaking legacy of her family, Professor Sanino D’Amanda explained that Taviani “has embraced the contemporary issues and made documentary filmmaking a top priority in the vein of Vittorio De Seta and the best Italian documentary filmmaking.”

The following events of the film series are confirmed. Please check our Facebook group page beginning on November 8^th for any changes.

November 9th at 6:00 pm at Shults Center Forum at Nazareth College's Casa Italiana

Film Screening: Kaos (1984) Directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani , in Italian with English subtitles

November 10th, 6pm at R.I.T.’s UNIVERSITY GALLERY - BOOTH Building

Reception and Artist Talk with Giovanna Taviani on the Taviani Brothers film "CEASER MUST DIE" and 7pm screening of the the film in WEBB Auditorium plus Q&A after the film

November 11th, 6pm in UNIVERSITY GALLERY - BOOTH Building

Reception and Artist Talk with Giovanna Taviani on her film 'RITORNI- RETURNS" and 7pm screening of the film in CARLSON Auditorium in CARLSON Building plus Q&A after film

November 14th for the High Falls Film Festival at the DRYDEN THEATER at EASTMAN MUSEUM 'RITORNI- RETURNS" and 4pm

The film 'RITORNI' (Check www.eastman.org or the IACC Facebook group page for screening time)

Comments

The Legend of Alberto Sordi - Rome's Eternal Son

′′They will always judge you, whether you behave well or if you behave badly. So screw it and live as you want but above all don't listen to anyone.′′ - Alberto Sordi By giving his fellow Italians something to laugh about during tumultuous times, he emerged as his generation’s King of Comedy. One of Italy’s best-loved personalities, Alberto Sordi played a pivotal role in Italian cinema from the end of World War II to the postwar economic boom of the 1950s. During those tumultuous years, he gave his countrymen a hearty laugh when they might have otherwise cried. Former Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi perhaps said it best: “Alberto Sordi interpreted the feelings of Italians, especially in their most difficult and tough moments.” Born in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome in 1920, Sordi grew up in a creative household. His mother was an elementary school teacher and his father, a professional musician for the Rome Opera House. A young Sordi joined the children’s choir o...

Luminous Legacies: Yoichi Ohira’s Murano Glass at Magazzino Italian Art

A new exhibition in Cold Spring, New York, is bringing the luminous legacy of Murano glassmaking into focus through the work of Japanese artist Yoichi Ohira. “Yoichi Ohira: Japan in Murano” is on view at Magazzino Italian Art until February 2027. The exhibit showcases the work of Ohira, who became a leading figure in the design of Venetian glassworks on the island of Murano. The exhibition features works that highlight the uniqueness of Ohira’s art across the decades of his career. Ohira’s earliest Murano works blend Venetian glass techniques with his own style. These pieces show balanced shapes, clear surfaces, and striking color combinations. His Venezia e l’Oriente (Venice and the Orient) decanters reflect Venice’s ties to the East, creating vases inspired by Marco Polo’s tales with a modern twist. The exhibition shows Ohira’s respect for Murano’s glass masters, displaying objects alongside preparatory drawings that map ideas to the final works of art. It also explores ho...

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

In Conversation with Talia Shire

She has immortalized two of the most memorable characters in American cinema and now she’s promoting her new film that mirrors issues facing the working class. Talia Shire became a household name in the 1970s with her role as Connie Corleone in "The Godfather" and Adrian Balboa in "Rocky"– two characters that went on to experience tremendous growth in the sequels of both films. Shire and her brother, collaborator and director Francis Ford Coppola grew up in a family that embraced the arts. Their father Carmine Coppola was a renowned flutist and composer. He often took his children on the road when he performed. So there was always that creative energy and sense of adventure present in their childhood and adolescent years. “What you have to understand is that Francis is probably the greatest writer. He and Mario (Puzo) did Shakespeare and the Greeks. So people who love "The Godfather" are really listening to literature. He went on and did what ...

Isabella Ferrari- the Damsel and the Thinker

Isabella Ferrari is a versatile actress whose trademark pouty lips and intense, melancholy eyes have been gracing Italian screens for more than three decades. Born in Piacenza on March 31, 1964, Ferrari has perfected the art of playing contrasting roles like the damsel in distress and the complicated, intellectual. Influenced by Italian auteur cinema, which encompasses the neo-realistic approach to filmmaking, she delivers powerful performances with each role she tackles. Ferrari's small screen debut goes back to 1981 in Gianni Boncompagni's television program, "Under the Stars." Two years later, she made her big screen debut in the summer comedy, "Il ras del quartiere." Diego Abatantuono, the star of the Oscar winning film, "Mediterraneo," co-wrote and starred in the film, which put Isabella Ferrari on the map and she hasn't stopped working since. Open Roads 2005: Isabella Ferrari, Antonio Monda and Renato De Maria With doz...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog