23 songs shot in 21 days would be the skinniest premise for an otherwise very passionate musical journey by John Turturro into the cultural alleys and pathways of a very special city – Napoli. [youtube width=”615″ height=”484″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfZEEs-gWLc[/youtube]Trailer I attended the film uptown opening, at The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s new state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe… Continue reading Open Roads 2010: Passione (John Turturro – 2010)
Open Roads 2011: Fughe e approdi – Return to the Aeolian Islands (Giovanna Taviani – 2010)
Quick, what comes to your mind when you think about the word “island?” It’s not a coincidence the word swings between two opposing associations: on the positive end, it offers exotic escape, away from it all repose, while on the negative – a sense of forced seclusion, and disconnectedness from rest of the world. The… Continue reading Open Roads 2011: Fughe e approdi – Return to the Aeolian Islands (Giovanna Taviani – 2010)
Open Roads 2011: 1860 I Mille di Garibaldi (Alessandro Blasetti – 1934)
As Italy celebrates its 150th year of unification (aka Risoregimento) this year, the Lincoln Film Society in New York chose to include this masterpiece by Alessandro Blasetti as part of their current festival: Open Roads: New Italian Cinema. I attended the screening and here are some of my impressions. Carmelo and Rosuzza his wife reunited… Continue reading Open Roads 2011: 1860 I Mille di Garibaldi (Alessandro Blasetti – 1934)
Cosa voglio di più – Come Undone (Silvio Soldini – 2010)
If you think what made Neorealism successful; a genuine blend of non-professional actors, shots on location, themes of social hardships and “objectively” journalistic camera – served to post-war Italian audiences that must have said “yea this is exactly what we’ve gone through!” and then went on garnering a worldwide admiration. Then, when you think of… Continue reading Cosa voglio di più – Come Undone (Silvio Soldini – 2010)
L’eclisse – Eclipse (Michelangelo Antonioni – 1962)
With the spirit of experimentalism Antonioni was known for as exhibited in this film that serves part of his existential trilogy – I figured we could try a new post format today. Interested? Well read on. The following paragraphs will all have two common characteristics: 1) they all answer a simple question; what I liked… Continue reading L’eclisse – Eclipse (Michelangelo Antonioni – 1962)