CafePellicola

window to fine italian cinema

A vibrant community celebrating the prominent achievements of Italian cinema — from Neorealism to the present.

Still from Fantasmi di San Berillo – Ghosts of San Berillo (Edoardo Morabito – 2013)

Fantasmi di San Berillo – Ghosts of San Berillo (Edoardo Morabito – 2013)

Italian Cinema London has  launched today a week-long online festival dedicated to Italian documentaries, aptly called ItalianDocsOnline.  It's a quite innovative program that exposes audiences around the world with some of the latest Italian documentaries. And what's more it's free with audience voting to add a bit of a sizzle to the event. Holly, one of the ghosts of San Berillo - an authentic study of timeworn face and stone; form and function.

DocumentarySicily
Still from Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

A seasonal note from cafe Pellicola wishing readers happy holidays.

News
Still from La commare secca – The Grim Reaper (Bernardo Bertolucci – 1962)

La commare secca – The Grim Reaper (Bernardo Bertolucci – 1962)

Master Conflict: a prostitute was killed in Paolino park in Rome.

DramaMystery
Still from Join Us: cafe Pellicola Live Hangout (8/11/14)

Join Us: cafe Pellicola Live Hangout (8/11/14)

It’s been something we wanted to do for a while now. You know that feeling, your passion, technology and great people you meet along the way that make it possible to do great things. Cafe Pellicola Live is such initiative. We are happy to invite you to join our monthly live video hangouts as we "virtually" meet for coffee with special guests: ranging from filmmakers, festivals' artistic directors to Italian Studies cinema scholars.

cafe Pellicola Live
Still from Mediterraneo (Gabriele Salvatores – 1991)

Mediterraneo (Gabriele Salvatores – 1991)

In tempi come questi, la fuga è l'unico mezzo che rimane.

ComedyWar
Still from Cristo si è fermato a Eboli – Christ Stopped at Eboli (Francesco Rosi – 1979)

Cristo si è fermato a Eboli – Christ Stopped at Eboli (Francesco Rosi – 1979)

In this film, Francesco Rosi tells the story of painter Carlo Levi, an anti-fascist activist that was arrested in Turin in 1935 and was sent by Mussolini to the remote town of Gagliano (invented name) - in what is known today as Basilicata.

DramaPolitical
Still from Terraferma (Emanuele Crialese – 2011)

Terraferma (Emanuele Crialese – 2011)

These days I have roughly an hour commute time between 8AM-9AM, so I find myself spending the time listening to Italian live radio broadcast (thank you TuneIn Radio app). This is one of the blessings of broadband streaming; your views and surroundings are rooted in the US, but your real-time soundtrack is coming from elsewhere – in this case, Italy.

DramaImmigrationSicily
Still from The Job – Il Posto (Ermanno Olmi – 1961)

The Job – Il Posto (Ermanno Olmi – 1961)

Do you remember your first job interview and your mom protectively cautioning you, don’t mess up this could be a great opportunity, practically work for life? Or an important exam you took at school and the following stress afterwards when your friends commenting - that was easy (no it wasn't!), prodding you the correct answer was 24, right?

DramaNeorealism