Open Roads: New Italian Cinema marks 25 years at Lincoln Center

Photo Courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories

The 25th anniversary edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema is upon us, and it’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century has gone by since the first edition in 2001. This year’s lineup features 15 films that exemplify the richness and diversity of contemporary Italian cinema, from young filmmakers to veterans, from comedies to dramas to documentaries.

“It’s always a pleasure to bring the most exciting new films in Italian cinema to our audience here in New York, and this year’s edition of Open Roads should prove especially stimulating, spotlighting some of Italy’s greatest up-and-coming talent, but also paying tribute to Roberto Rossellini, an absolutely pivotal, paradigm-shifting figure in the history of world cinema,” said Film at Lincoln Center Programmer Dan Sullivan. “Taken as a whole, this lineup offers some interesting propositions about the present and future of Italian cinema, while also deeply engaging with its incomparable past.”

On this milestone anniversary, I can’t help but reminisce about the first edition, which came at a time when I had just spent six months in Rome and was very homesick for the beautiful city and culture I had left behind. I was living on the Upper West Side of New York at the time and discovered the series while walking by Lincoln Center and noticing a poster promoting it. I saw just about every film in the lineup and attended most of the Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. That year, “LaCapaGira” by Alessandro Piva was one of the most talked about films of the series. It seemed a contemporary version of neorealism with so much on-location shooting and actors who seemed to engage in a lot of ad-libbing. Until Open Roads, most Americans just saw the big productions coming out of Italy, such as Roberto Benigni’s “Life is Beautiful,” Nanni Moretti’s “Dear Diary,” Michael Radford’s “Il Postino,” Gabriele Salvatores’ “Mediterraneo,” and of course, Giuseppe Tornatore’s beloved “Cinema Paradiso.” So, films like those we saw in the first edition of Open Roads and in the years that followed were truly groundbreaking, and perhaps part of the reason for the surge in Italian-themed film festivals and streaming platforms featuring contemporary Italian cinema across the United States since then.

In the last few years, the festival has focused on new filmmakers, with fewer veteran filmmakers attending. In 2010 through 2014, for example, filmmakers like Carlo Verdone, Salvatores, Rocco Papaleo, and Laura Morante traveled to New York with the Italian delegation. These days, we are seeing younger directors attending the series and the Q&A sessions to discuss their films. In the last few years, there have been one or two veteran filmmakers in attendance. So, while the presence of the likes of Verdone and Morante is missed, the series has maintained its standing as a high-profile platform for young directors to discuss the issues their generation faces in contemporary Italy and how those issues are reflected in their films.

The 25th edition continues that theme with filmmakers like director Carolina Cavalli and actress Benedetta Porcaroli, who will present “The Kidnapping of Arabella” (“Il rapimento di Arabella”). The film is Cavalli’s sophomore effort, whereas Porcaroli is a young actress who has been working in Italian cinema for a decade, appearing in many films that have made their way to the U.S. through streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon. Andrea De Sica will return to Open Roads to present his third feature film, “The Eyes of Others” (“Gli occhi degli altri”). In addition to his features, he has directed episodes for numerous television series, including Netflix’s popular series, “Baby,” starring Porcaroli, which ran from 2018 to 2020.

The special tribute to Rossellini will mark the director’s 120th birthday. A screening of his devastating “Paísa,” the second installment of his war trilogy, will be shown on June 1, following the new documentary, “Roberto Rossellini, Living Without a Script” by Ilaria de Laurentiis, Raffaele Brunetti, and Andrea Paolo Massara. Rossellini’s daughter, Ingrid, will introduce both films. Open Roads: New Italian Cinema runs May 28 to June 4. Click here for the full lineup.

Comments

A Conversation with Sergio Castellitto

Sergio Castellitto has made a profound impact on world cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. Born in Rome in 1953, Castellitto graduated from film school in 1978 and credits American cinema with pushing him toward a career in acting. His work has garnered numerous accolades, largely due to his immersive, original approach to projects in film, television and theatre. Castellitto is fluent in French and English, which has contributed mightily to his international stardom. But it's the actor's trademark brown eyes and charming everyman qualities that have lent his various characters -- even the ones that are rough around the edges -- an air of dignity that other actors might not have achieved. Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini, 2005 Films such as "Paura e Amore," "L'uomo delle stelle," "Caterina va in città," and "Bella Martha" heralded Castellitto as a versatile artist with far-reaching abilities. But it ...

Alessandro Gassmann: Born to Act

Alessandro Gassmannin his directorial debut "Razzabastarda" Alessandro Gassmann is the son of the iconic Italian actor/director Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He was born in 1965 and grew up around cinema royalty. He made his cinema debut in 1982 at the age of 17 in his father's autobiographical film, "Di padre in figlio." He went on to study his craft under his father's direction at the Theatre Workshop of Florence. Vittorio Gassman was very active in theater and seemed just as comfortable on stage as he did in front of the camera. Known for his powerful interpretations of Dante's "Inferno" and "Paradiso," it is no surprise that he nurtured his son's acting aspirations on stage before he launched his career in television and film. One of Gassmann's strong qualities, which he undoubtedly inherited from his father is his incredible range and ease in going from genre to genre. He can play ...

Interview: Cristina Scabbia of Italian Heavy Metal Band- Lacuna Coil

Photo by Jeremy Saffer ( http://store.jeremysaffer.com/collections/tenthirtyoneinc ) Lacuna Coil is a heavy metal band whose unique sound and creative music videos have catapulted them to international stardom. The band consists of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro on vocals, Marco Coti Zelati on bass, Cristiano Migliore and Marco 'Maus' Biazzi on guitars and Cristiano 'CriZ' Mozzati on drums. All members hail from Milan and bring to the table their own signature talent. A few years ago, the internet buzz about Lacuna Coil's music videos prompted me to check them out on YouTube. I've been hooked ever since. Their videos are creative vignettes shot all over the world, directed by cutting edge filmmakers in Europe and the United States. Although Lacuna coil is considered a heavy metal band, the unique melodies in their songs are rarely found in traditional heavy metal. The range of the band is also something you rarely see in this genre of mus...

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 ...

Ettore Scola explores enduring friendships and lost ideals in 'C’eravamo tanto amati'

A scene from "C'eravamo tanti amati" Mixing both tragedy and humor, Ettore Scola ’s 1974 film “C’eravamo tanto amati” (“We All Loved Each Other So Much”) follows 30 years in the lives of three men and the woman they each adore. By examining how his generation changed after the war, Scola makes a film that reflects its era. Scola explores the moral, political and emotional evolution of Italy’s postwar generation and, in doing so, creates a film that is a chronicle of its time and a love letter to cinema. The story begins in the aftermath of World War II. Three friends — Antonio ( Nino Manfredi ), Gianni (Vittorio Gassman) and Nicola (Stefano Satta Flores) — emerge from the Italian Resistance with a shared dream of justice, equality and social renewal. They are united by their hope that the sacrifices of war will lead to a better world. But the decades that follow prove to be challenging as Italy undergoes massive social changes, from the postwar economic boom to the politi...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog