Do your memories carry a soundtrack? Ermanno Olmi in a genuine masterpiece believes they sure do. And why not? We all tend to associate old songs to places and people we used to know and this way create more vivid and richer “mini-episodes” in our mind. Olmi skillfully uses a lively tune of a dance… Continue reading The Fiancés – I Fidanzati (Ermanno Olmi – 1963)
Hands over the City – Le Mani Sulla Città (Francesco Rosi – 1963)
The characters and events shown are imaginary The social and environmental context is real Fracesco Rosi‘s outrageously bold social realism film ends with the above condemning statement. The film offers a unique over the shoulder view into the world of political deal making and corruption in Naples of the early 60’s. Rod Steiger effectively plays… Continue reading Hands over the City – Le Mani Sulla Città (Francesco Rosi – 1963)
Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore – 1988)
Several days ago we saw Cinema Paradiso at the House of Italy. Clearly the film centers on the relationship of projectionist Alfredo with Salvatore (Toto), both as child and as adolescent. A question that always comes back to me is why Alfredo insists so forcefully that the adolescent Salvatore leave and never return and never… Continue reading Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore – 1988)
Miracle in Milan – Miracolo a Milano (Vittorio de Sica – 1951)
Take a close look at the this picture. What do you think is happening? A lot has been written about this neorealist modern fairy tale from Vittorio de Sica – the director of ‘The Bicycle Thief’. If you haven’t seen this masterpiece yet, pick one of your gloomy days (we all have a few) and… Continue reading Miracle in Milan – Miracolo a Milano (Vittorio de Sica – 1951)
Enchanted – Incantato (Pupi Avati – 2003)
Can a social class gap prevent two people from having a relationship? According to Pupi Avati’s highly-acclaimed film Incantato – no for a while, but then again yes in 1920’s Bologna. In this context, Nello a young and sensitive professor (Neri Marcorè) from Rome is sent to teach in a notable college in Bologna and… Continue reading Enchanted – Incantato (Pupi Avati – 2003)