Italian Cinema Today

Italians made their way back to the cinemas over the weekend and one of the most popular films to see was Giorgio Diritti's "Volevo nascondermi" (Hidden Away) , the story of tortured artist Antonio Ligabue. The son of an emigrant Italian mother, Ligabue was deported to Italy from Switzerland where he spent his childhood. He lived a life of solitude in a shack by the river for years. Meeting the sculptor Renato Marino Mazzacurati provided an opportunity to express himself through painting, the beginning of a redemption story in which he feels art is the only way to form his identity. “El Tudesc,” as people called him, was a lonely, introverted and often mocked and humiliated man. He became an imaginative artist who painted a fantasy world of tigers, gorillas and jaguars on the banks of the Po River. Ligabue’s art is a “fairy tale” from which a wealth of diversity emerges and his work over time has proved to be a gift to collective humanity. "Volevo nascondermi...

Americans know her as Rosa Napolitano from " The Golden Door ," Emanuele Crialese's   heartfelt story of immigration in America at the turn of the 20th century. Italians know her as a diverse contemporary actress always mesmerizing audiences as she wondrously transforms herself into her characters.  Born in Palermo in 1981, Isabella Ragonese studied her craft in her hometown with theater director Michele Perriera. Her studies included interpretations of his work whether it'd be writing, directing or starring in adaptations. Upon graduating, she received her first big break in Crialese's "Nuovomondo" (The Golden Door) and just two years later, headed the all-star cast of Paolo Virzì's  "Tutta la vita davanti" (The Whole Life Ahead). She went on to appear in numerous productions on both the big and small screen. Then in 2014, she teamed up again with her "Tutta la vita davanti" costar Elio Germano for ...

From the opening night film to various presentations, this year's Roma Fiction Fest is shaping up to be a must-attend event. In Arte Nino  starring Elio Germano will open the festival on Wednesday. The film chronicles the life of Italy's beloved iconic actor Nino Manfredi. Directed by his son, Luca Manfredi, the entire cast, which includes one of my favorite contemporary Italian actresses, Anna Ferruzzo , will walk the Red Carpet and attend the Wednesday premiere. Among the fabulous events are a Friday discussion with the crew of The Young Pope with various garments and costumes on display. Saturday, actor extraordinaire  Marco Giallini will discuss his hit RAI television series, Rocco Schiavone . The festival runs December 7 - 11, with the screenings will held in the various theaters at The Space Cinema Moderno di Roma, which is located at Piazza della Repubblica. If you are in Rome and a cinema aficionado like me, I highly recommend checking out a few of ...