Il gioiellino – The Little Gem (Andrea Molaioli – 2011)

One of my favorite delights, as you could imagine, is attending film festivals, preferably in Italy. And when I have a chance load up with ton of books. I try to buy either the latest Italian bestsellers or books about some of my favorite Italian directors. Last year I attended Rome International Film Festival, and… Continue reading Il gioiellino – The Little Gem (Andrea Molaioli – 2011)

La ricotta (Pier Paolo Pasolini -1962)

Right from the choice of the title – The Ricotta – Pasolini kicks off an onslaught of symbols to convey his dissatisfaction with the dull consumerism of Italian society during the economic boom of early 60’s. To his belief, the government along with the church banded together to exploit the poor. A prophet ahead of… Continue reading La ricotta (Pier Paolo Pasolini -1962)

Open Roads 2011: Il mio domani – My Tomorrow (Marina Spada – 2011)

It’s amazing that a year has just passed and it’s already June and time for Lincoln Center’s excellent series: Open Roads: New Italian Cinema 2012. I attended last year and enjoyed the fresh lineup; I reviewed a few. Director Marina Spada during Q&A session The Walter Reade Theater was fully packed with eager audience that… Continue reading Open Roads 2011: Il mio domani – My Tomorrow (Marina Spada – 2011)

In nome della legge – In the Name of the Law (Pietro Germi – 1949)

New magistrate arrives, and old one departs It usually happens when a new guy, typically from the north, but in this case from the Sicilian capital, arrives to the wild South in effort to instill some law and order and the local backlash it creates. We have already seen this formula in action in many… Continue reading In nome della legge – In the Name of the Law (Pietro Germi – 1949)

Mamma Roma (Pier Paolo Pasolini – 1962)

Individualism vs. determinism is it truly up to the individual to change his destiny or is it all predetermined? Anna Magnani in an emotion explosion In his second film Mamma Roma, Pier Paolo Pasolini is constantly moving between these two extreme poles. The story, brings about Pasolini’s typical characters on the margins of life as… Continue reading Mamma Roma (Pier Paolo Pasolini – 1962)