La Grande Bellezza – The Great Beauty (Paolo Sorrentino – 2013)

La Grande Bellezza

This movie is a portrait of the lifestyle and human attitude that is typical of Roman society: decadent, indolent and insolent – if you allow me to express these words also in English. Sorrentino gives us fantastic, charming, captivating photographs of Rome. From the sparkling colors of Jep’s funkiest parties, to the shaded tones of… Continue reading La Grande Bellezza – The Great Beauty (Paolo Sorrentino – 2013)

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)

Gli Anni Ruggenti – Roaring Years (Luigi Zampa – 1962)

I saw this charming Italian comedy the other night on YouTube projected on my big screen and tried to imagine some of the thoughts that ran through audiences’ minds who saw it for the first time in Italian movie theaters in the early 60’s. [youtube width=”615″ height=”470″]http://youtu.be/uxzYEqxrZHE[/youtube] Complete film I guess it reminded me of… Continue reading Gli Anni Ruggenti – Roaring Years (Luigi Zampa – 1962)

Guglielmo il dentone – William “Il Dentone” (Luigi Filippo D’Amico – 1965)

These days YouTube is overflowing with rare cinematic gems like this short film by Luigi Filippo D’Amico Guglielmo il dentone, which is part of a triptych film named I Complessi with the other two shorts directed by Dino Risi and Franco Rossi. I searched for the other two on YouTube, with no luck. That said,… Continue reading Guglielmo il dentone – William “Il Dentone” (Luigi Filippo D’Amico – 1965)

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)