Cycle
From 05.05. To 15.05.2004.
Program of Italian film
Films in cycle
Cabiria
(1914)
Directed by: Giovanni Pastrone
PHOTOGRAPHY: Augusto Batagliotti, Eugenio Bava, Natale Chiusano, Carlo Franzeri, Giovanni Tomatis, Segundo de Chomón
Synopsis:
The story takes place in Rome and Carthage in the 3rd century before Christ. The main characters are the kidnapped Roman virgin Cabiria, who is going to be sacrificed to the god of fire, Moloch, and the kind giant who saves her… This film is rich with grandiose mass scenes, stunning costumes and set design, and surprisingly modern special effects. For esthetic purposes, the camera was placed on a specially constructed trolley, and there was additional refined lighting.
b/w, 125 min
PROJECTION:
Wednesday 05.05.2004 AT 21:00
La guerra e il sogno di Momi
(1917)
Directed by: Segundo de Chomón
Synopsis:
This film is famous for its animated sequence in which puppets were used. Giovanni Pastrone was the co-director.
b/w, 35 min
PROJECTION:
Thursday 06.05.2004 AT 21:00
Maciste alpino
(1916)
Directed by: Luigi Maggi
Synopsis:
A soldier, fighting in the WW I, possesses incredible strength. While fighting in the World War, he also fights a private war trying to save a girl from a castle where she is imprisoned... This is a successful film by the tandem Luigi Maggi and Giovani Pastrone, in which, due to the contemporary war euphoria, Pastrone’s Roman hero from the film Cabiria, became a modern Italian soldier.
b/w, 85 min
PROJECTION:
Friday 07.05.2004 AT 21:00
Il bandito
(1946)
Directed by: Alberto Lattuada
PHOTOGRAPHY: Aldo Tonti
Synopsis:
This is a typical neorealist film, which deals with the hard consequence of war and problems of the so-called “little people”. The main character is Ernesto who, after the WW II, returns home from German captivity. This film was successfully presented at the Cannes film festival.
b/w, 77 min
PROJECTION:
Saturday 08.05.2004 AT 21:00
Riso amaro
(1949)
Directed by: Giuseppe De Santis
PHOTOGRAPHY: Otello Martelli
Synopsis:
This film deals with the problem of the exploitation of female workers on rice fields in Piemonte. It achieved great success outside of Italy thanks to the erotic scenes with the leading actress Silvana Mangano, who became the first pin-up in Italian cinematography.
35mm, b/w, 107 min
PROJECTION:
Sunday 09.05.2004 AT 21:00
I compagni
(1963)
Directed by: Mario Monicelli
PHOTOGRAPHY: Giuseppe Rotunno
Synopsis:
This is a powerful, almost documentary, account of the exploitation of Italian workers in the 19th century and a fierce analysis of the emergence of Italian syndicate. The film was nominated for an Oscar in the category of the best screenplay and the director Mario Monicelli won an award at the Mar del Plata film festival.
b/w, 130 min
PROJECTION:
Tuesday 11.05.2004 AT 21:00
Tutti giů per terra
(1997)
Directed by: Davide Ferrario
Synopsis:
Walter is a 22-year-old student of philosophy without a job or a girlfriend (in fact, he is still a virgin). Rather than “living it up”, he distances himself from the general flow of life, living with his father, who works hard to support his family, and a whimsical mother… This is a praised cynical comedy by David Ferrari, which won the special award at the Locarno film festival and the Maverick Spirit award at the Cinequest San Jose Film Festival.
color, 98 min
PROJECTION:
Wednesday 12.05.2004 AT 21:00
La pattuglia sperduta
(1952)
Directed by: Pierro Nelli
Synopsis:
This is a small but important film in the Italian producer Franco Cristaldi’s filmography. Throughout his career, he successfully worked with great directors such as Frederico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, Francesco Rosi and Pietro Germi. This film tells a story from the time of the Italian Risorgimento.
b/w, 100 min
PROJECTION:
Friday 14.05.2004 AT 19:00
I nostri anni
(2000)
Directed by: Daniele Gaglianone
Synopsis:
Alberto and Natalino are two old men, former partisans in the WW II. Silurino was a partisan who was captured by the blackshirts. Natalino still lives in the mountains in an inhabited village. Alberto, a widower, spends the summer in a small hotel where he becomes friends with Umberto, old man in a wheelchair. Slowly but surely, the old events from the war come to the surface… The director Daniele Gaglianone won an award in the category of the best debutant at the Torino film festival....
color, 88 min
PROJECTION:
Friday 14.05.2004 AT 21:00
Razmataz Vaudeville
(2001)
Directed by: Paolo Conte
Synopsis:
This is a multimedia DVD by the director Paolo Conte. It is a story about the clash of the old Europe and new black music in Paris. This DVD consists of different elements: dialogues, monologues, narrator’s story, sound effects, drawings and a soundtrack with the original music and songs (including eight of Conte’s new and previously unreleased compositions).