Italian Cinema Today

It's just been announced that director Andrea De Sica won the Nastro d'Argento award for Best Debut. His film " I figli della notte"  (Children of the Night) is a spectacular first feature, so it's a much-deserved honor. "I figli della notte" is the story of an unlikely friendship between Giulio and Edoardo that is born in an all-boys boarding school nestled in the secluded mountains of northern Italy. The two discover a nightclub hidden in the surrounding forest. One thing leads to another and they manage to get themselves into some serious trouble.  One can interpret that each boy has his own set of problems, which stem from belonging to families of wealth. They are dropped off against their will and forced to live in an environment that isn't always emotionally healthy, especially for a teenager.  The articulate script blended with the energetic, but mysterious music score add a strong element of suspense and keep you at the edge of your seat ri...

This morning, the winners of the Nastri d’Argento for Best Documentary were announced. Among the winners is Antonietta De Lillo, a director I’ve admired for years. I first saw her work at the 2005 edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, an annual film series held at Lincoln Center, which showcases contemporary Italian films. There, she presented “Il resto di niente”, a beautiful story about courage and determination set in the 17 th century, adapted from Enzo Striano’s novel. Her latest film, the documentary “Oggi, insieme domani” (OIDA or in English- Today Tomorrow Together) is a film which speaks to the complexities of love and relationships in this day and age, and the current social revolution happening in Italy- in particular with same-sex marriage. I asked De Lillo a few questions about the making of this film and the current situation of modern love in her country. Our interview was done in Italian, so both versions are included. What inspired you to create this proje...