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

Actor Ivan Boragine on Gomorra, Growing up in Napoli and his Love for Theater

Neapolitan actor Ivan Boragine embraces everything that is Napoli. From his pride and passion to his nostalgia and sadness, Napoli is always in his heart. That is why his role in the popular Italian television series Gomorra has been the role of a lifetime. Not only has the worldwide broadcast (64 countries) skyrocketed him to fame, it has given him a way to bring to light the problems and corruption of one generation so that the next could have a better chance. I met with Boragine recently while I was in Rome. I found him to be down-to-earth and honest about the pride and love he has for his culture and also for his art. We spoke a lot about his hometown of Napoli and the impact the Neapolitan theater has had on actors. We also talked about his role in Gomorra and how it fuels his love for acting. Boragine got his start in acting a little over a decade ago when he landed a role in a local theater production of the Neapolitan classic, Miseria e Nobilità (Misery...

Italian Biblical Movies to Watch During Lent

Join me in beginning the Lenten season with my favorite adaptation of one of the Gospels- Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1964 “Il Vangolo Secondo Matteo" (The Gospel According to St. Matthew) and a few classics that I recently discovered. Considered by the Vatican to be among the best film adaptations of the Gospels, Pasolini's film was shot in the regions of Basilicata and Calabria. He cast his mother as Mary and many locals as extras. Spanish actor Enrique Irazoqui was cast in the role of Jesus. He was just 18-years-old when he landed the part. He had been in Rome at the time of casting and auditioned for the role. I contacted Irazoqui around this time last year to ask him about his experience making the film. He suggested that we have a conversation via Skype. Although the connection wasn’t very good, it was thrilling to talk directly with this actor whose film I had been watching for at least 20 years. He was very friendly and nostalgic in his recollections espe...

7 Days - 7 Women: Gina Lollobrigida

Update, January 16,2023: Gina Lollobrigida has passed away at the age of 95. On Day 3 of our week-long series, 7 Days - 7 Women, in which we are showcasing seven strong, talented women working as filmmakers, writers or visual artists, we celebrate the forceful, creative energy of movie legend Gina Lollobrigida. She has been called the most beautiful woman in the world and at 87 years old, she is still a sight to behold. Her outer beauty mirrors the talent and inner beauty of this true, complete artist. Lollobrigida, the iconic actress, photojournalist and sculptress, was born Luigina Lollobrigida on July 4, 1932 in Subiaco, Italy, a town located outside of Rome in the province of Lazio. Adored by fans all over the world, Lollobrigida has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Anthony Quinn and Shelly Winters. She acted opposite Bob Hope in his 1968 comedy, "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell," and...

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 ...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog