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Showing posts from July, 2020

Explore Sardinia with ISRECINEMA

A unique collection of videos about the Sardinian heritage are available on Vimeo through the Ethnographic Institute of Sardinia’s on-demand platform, “ISRECINEMA.” There are 52 works (with new ones on the way) that consist of photo essays, documentaries, short films and animated films. The platform contains the institutes first works dating back to the late 1970s and the most recent productions. All were shot on the island of Sardinia. Some have had considerable success, including  Paolo Zucca’s "The referee," which earned him a David di Donatello for Best Short Film. One compelling documentary is "La cena delle anime" (Supper for Dead Souls) by Ignazio Figus, which made its North American premiere in New York last year at the Margaret Mead Film Festival. A Sardinia native, Figus has made it his life's work to study the culture of his land. He works with ISRE, using the medium of visual anthropology to report his findings. I talked with him about his fa

Sunday Streaming: The Still Relevant 'At the Edge of the City'

Giulietta Masina  gives a forceful performance in Carlo Lizzani and Massimo Mida’s 1952   suspenseful murder mystery, “Ai margini della metropoli” (At the Edge of the City).  Masina plays Gina, the devoted wife of Mario (Michel Jourdin), an unemployed peasant accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Marcella. The layered story and brilliantly written screenplay show a side of 1950s Rome that we rarely see in Post-WWII films but existed for the vast poverty-stricken population. The subject deals with the unspoken discrimination against those living in camps and land-shares who did not benefit from the post-war economic boom. A young, vibrant Massimo Girotti portrays a torn defense attorney who gets emotionally invested in the case, having a gut feeling that his client is innocent while the evidence continues to pile up against him. Gina goes to great lengths to track down the alleged witnesses and call them out on their false testimony. The entire film comes together in a spectacular

Edgardo Pistone's “Very Pasolinian Naples”

The Venice Film Critics’ Week is an independent section of the Venice International Film Festival, organized by the Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI). The program traditionally gets a second run in Rome during the Autumn months. The annual series fosters independent and free-thinking filmmakers, often showcasing the work of new talent, and this year is no different. The 2020 program includes a selection of seven debut films in competition and two special events out of competition. Looking over the Italian films, I found some intriguing projects by filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds. Among them is Edgardo Pistone’s short film, “Le mosche” (The Flies). I was immediately drawn to the black and white images, which reflect both nostalgia and viridity. Critics are already comparing the film to Pier Paolo Pasolini’s work, and I can understand why. The poetry of Naples, where it was shot, and the aloofness of the boys brings to mind Pasolini’s “Accattone” as well as Federico Fellini’s

Matteo Garrone's 'Le Mythe Dior'

Check out this brand new dreamy short film by Matteo Garrone for Dior and click here to read a beautiful article by Stefano Monti with all the details behind the making of it.

Alessandra Mortelliti's Debut Feature Film in Italian Theaters

Having made its world premiere in the Alice nella Città section of the 14th Rome Film Festival, Alessandra Mortelliti’s debut film "Famosa" was adapted from the theatrical monologue of the same name, written and performed by Mortelliti. The film follows Rocco, a lonely, misunderstood 17-year-old who lives in a small Italian town. He dreams of moving to Rome where he believes he'll have the freedom to express his artistic side. Hindered by his parents, Rocco is strengthened by his love for a classmate, his eccentric aunt, and the friendship with a girl. Stubborn and desperate, he eventually realizes his dream of moving to the big city, but finds a different reality than the one he envisioned. Check out the trailer...

Laura Bispuri – A Trailblazer Telling Stories from a Woman's Perspective

“I always wanted to talk about women – it has been my mission in my life and my work.” Filmmaker Laura Bispuri is part of a new generation of trailblazers giving voice to the plight of Italian women. Born in Rome in 1977, Bispuri began studying cinema at La Sapienza University. After graduation, she enrolled in an acclaimed filmmaking workshop under the guidance of producer, Domenico Procacci. That experience made a powerful impression on the young director, inspiring many short films and documentaries between 2003 and 2009 that caught the attention of network television producers and film festival directors. Then in 2010, she made the breakout film that earned her a David di Donatello for Best Short Film.  “Passing Time” was ahead of its time in regard to the film’s theme of gender identification. Set in a spacious, cold house in the Italian countryside, a teenage girl is overcome by grief over the death of her beloved grandfather, the only person in her life that truly und