Italian Cinema Today

Dubbed by The New York Times as the new image of Italian cinema, Maya Sansa is known for her intense roles and impressive range. In addition to Italian, she speaks fluent English and French, widening her appeal beyond the borders of Italy. The daughter of an Iranian father and Italian mother, Sansa began her acting journey when she was just a teenager. Upon graduating high school where her acting studies began, she went on to study her craft at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. While she was still a student there, she was chosen by director, Marco Bellocchio to costar in his film, La balia (The Nanny). The film premiered at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival and launched Sansa's career. In the years to come, she would go on to work with Bellocchio on two more of his films, Buongiorno notte  (Good Morning, Goodnight)  and Bella addormentata . In Bellocchio's 2003, Buongiorno, notte , Sansa plays the role of Chiara, a woman caught up in the violence and belie...

With a track record of diverse roles, actress Valeria Solarino proves time and time again that she is not afraid to play the rebellious character who doesn't follow the crowd. Born in Venezuela to a Sicilian father and Turinese mother, Solarino was raised in Northern Italy and grew up surrounded by culture. As a student, she majored in philosophy but turned her direction to acting in 2000 when she auditioned for the prestigious northern Italian acting school, Teatro Stabile di Torino, and was selected to enroll in their program. After following the three-year intesive course, she received her first acting job shortly after graduation; a role in Mimmo Calopresi's 2003 film, La felicità non costa niente (Happiness Costs Nothing). One year later, she accepted the role of Bea in Giovanni Veronese's Che ne sarà di noi (What Will Happen to Us). The role turned out to be life changing for the actress. She fell in love with the director, and 10 years later, the couple is stil...

The cinematic world of Italian maestro Marco Bellocchio is one that encompasses a multitude of layers. His films speak about complex topics, including political movements, Italian history, and family relations. They do so in a way that combines the artistry of filmmaking with music and dialogue rendering his films iconic works that document the history and generations of his country. He communicates the messages of his films in a universal style that translates clearly to international audiences. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York recently honored the distinguished career of Bellocchio in a retrospective that included 18 of the director's films. The works spanned from the very beginning of his career right up until today, demonstrating his ability to evolve with the changing times, while maintaining his signature elements of rebellion, psychoanalysis, mystery, and fascination. On the occasion of the retrospective, a press conference was held at the Italian Cultural Ins...

The films of this year’s edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, the annual film series hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York, reflect a country in crisis. Italians are facing unprecedented economic challenges right now with the loss of jobs and a political infrastructure lacking the stability needed to get the country back on track. Each director featured in the Open Roads festival communicates that crisis in a uniquely different way; some with comedy, some with anger and resentment, and others with humble characters who will do just about anything to put food on the table. This brings me to veteran director, Gianni Amelio, and what a class act. I had the pleasure of talking with Amelio while he was in New York promoting two films included in this year’s edition of Open Roads- a documentary titled, "Happy to be Different," which explores gay life in Italy after the fall of fascism through the early '80s and "L’intrepido," the story of ...

Born in Austria, director Edoardo Winspeare spent his childhood in the enchanting land of Apulia, where his Italian origins go back 300 years.   That experience is strongly present in his work today.   Winspeare's love for the southern Pugliese culture is expressed in his approach to filmmaking. Utilizing his documentary background, he is known for calling upon local musicians and casting many non-professional actors. His 2014 film, "In grazia di Dio" (Quiet Bliss) Made its North American premiere at Lincoln Center's annual film series, Open Roads: New Italian Cinema. Shot in Salento, the film  reflects the current economic crisis facing Italians. Members of a family are forced to downsize their lives, selling their childhood home and taking on the laborious tasks of farmhouse peasants. Led by the family's matriarchs, Adele and her mother, the family manages to hold on to its dignity while making a living during the hardest of times. In a poignant scen...

Gianfranco Rosi, the acclaimed filmmaker and 2013 Golden Lion winner for "Sacro Gra," is set to delve into the story of Lampedusa, an island known for the tragic arrival of migrants, in his upcoming film. The project, produced by RAI Cinema, Cinecittà Luce, and Avventurosa, in collaboration with the French company Les Films d'Ici, aims to capture the essence of the island and its inhabitants. "I want to tell the story of the island of Lampedusa and its inhabitants beyond the tragic arrival of migrants, whose presence will however be felt, like an echo," Rosi said. Initially considering a short film, Rosi realized the complexity of the island's narrative required a more extensive exploration. "In the beginning, I thought of doing a short, but after two surveys, I thought it would be impossible to condense into ten minutes—stories that were going to tell the story of an island," he said. Rosi plans to relocate to Lampedusa in September to fully immer...