Adriano Giannini and Pilar Fogliati in a still from ‘A Brief Affair’ by Ludovica Rampoldi
It’s easy to believe that a beloved Italian screenwriter’s first directorial venture will be a watchable, intriguing film featuring great performances and possessing nuances of noir as well as unpredictable turns. And in Rampoldi’s hands, that is exactly what ‘A Brief Affair’ turns out to be.
Read More
Sophia Loren in a frame from the film ‘L’oro di Napoli’ by Vittorio De Sica
The Pre-opening film will screen on Tuesday August 27th of the 81st Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia, on the 50th anniversary of the death of Vittorio De Sica and the 70th anniversary of the film.
Read More
And no, while it does have pink lettering on the poster, it’s not ‘Barbie’. But it is female-directed and features a woman who proves an inspiration to women young and old…
Read More
Shince and Fernando in a still from ‘This Is Not Cricket’ by Jacopo de Bertoldi
I found my love for cricket within an Italian filmmaker’s documentary that has little to do with the game and much more with humanity’s place within it. Well, the film is called ‘This Is Not Cricket’ after all, and the filmmaker is wonderfully fresh voice in documentary, Jacopo de Bertoldi. A man with whom every conversation turns into an explanation of life.
Read More
Marcello Fonte in Matteo Garrone’s ‘Dogman’, photo by Greta De Lazzaris
Back in February during Berlinale, at the very start of this strange yet fateful year, I watched Laura Bispoli’s ‘Daughter of Mine’ and fell back in love with Italian cinema. I was then satisfied further in Cannes, where I got to watch three more fantastic Italian films — which included Matteo Garrone’s ‘Dogman’ and Alice Rohrwacher’s ‘Happy as Lazzaro’. Then Venice rolled around and there was ‘What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?’ by Roberto Minervini and my personal, patriotic soul burst with pride.
Well, London audiences will soon be able to experience all of these titles in one place along with a selection that will include Laura Luchetti’s ‘Twin Flower’, Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Suspiria’ and Eduardo De Angelis’ ‘The Vice of Hope’. They are all part of the BFI’s London Film Festival Italian selection of cinematic picks from our peninsula.
Read More
From left, Angela Fontana, Blu Yoshimi Di Martino and Denise Tantucci in 'Likemeback'
During this year's Locarno Festival, a few of the films I watched although narrative features, felt more like documentaries. Wonderfully gratifying documentaries without judgement or a cliche point of view in sight.
One such film was Leonardo Guerra Seràgnoli's 'Likemeback'. Perhaps because of the spontaneous acting by three exceptional young women -- Angela Fontana as Danila, Denise Tantucci as Carla and Blu Yoshimi Di Martino as Lavinia -- or maybe due to Guerra Seràgnoli's script and intimate way of filming this trio of friends on vacation on a sail boat, 'Likemeback' felt real.
Unforced and unequivocally cool.
In this age of #MeToo and TimesUp movements, 'Likemeback' offers a cautionary tale on the power of female sexuality and seduction and how that can be harnessed for the worst intentions. But it also places us in a front row seat on viewing the dangers of social media, when in the hands of the young and inexperienced.
Read More