Through the story of Emilio, a young carabiniere sent to a Sardinian village for its military training, the director Pietro Sanna gives us a picture of this culture that seems unchanged over the centuries. Emilio comes from Emilia Romagna (region in the North of Italy, on the Riviera of Adriatic sea), and the only idea… Continue reading La destinazione – The destination (Pietro Sanna – 2003)
Great Success at the opening of Ossining’s Italian Film Festival
The opening of the film festival last week was extremely successful. We started with the screening of The Job – Il Posto (Ermanno Olmi – 1961). The film drew a wonderful audience that stayed for the post-screening discussion that went around 45 minutes of active questions that showed me how engaged the audience was with… Continue reading Great Success at the opening of Ossining’s Italian Film Festival
Stromboli – Stromboli, Terra di Dio (Roberto Rossellini – 1950)
Known as the father of the Neorealist film movement with his emblematic masterpiece Rome Open City – Roma Citta’ Aperta (1945), Roberto Rossellini in 1950 decides to change direction. Seeing the role of cinema as mirroring a constantly evolving reality, he believes Italy has changed and there is no reason for producing more films about… Continue reading Stromboli – Stromboli, Terra di Dio (Roberto Rossellini – 1950)
Bicycle Thieves – Ladri di biciclette (Vittorio De Sica – 1948)
Stories about the common man emphasizing social issues, scenes shot in actual locations, and the use of non-professional actors – are the key ingredients of the Neorealist film movement in postwar Italy, which this film is one of its prominent expressions. Directed by Vittorio De Sica and adapted for the screen by Cesare Zavattini based… Continue reading Bicycle Thieves – Ladri di biciclette (Vittorio De Sica – 1948)
Tickets (Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach – 2005)
You better leave now if you want to catch this train. If we do a good job for this worldwide company, we’ll be on the gravy train for more projects. Sorry, for this class the train has already left the station – registration is over. Thanks, but you’ve just interrupted my train of thoughts. Trains… Continue reading Tickets (Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach – 2005)