Cinema Italiano Podcast

To celebrate the month of Valentine’s Day, taking a look at two love stories by Pietro Germi, both set in Sicily: Divorce Italian Style (1961) and Seduced and Abandoned (1964). These films, prime examples of commedia all’italiana, critique Italian law and society, examine public life and gender roles, all set against a backdrop of decaying aristocracy and the rise of the mafia. The dichotomy of simultaneously subverting institutions while putting on a face to follow the word of the law only heighten these outrageous, endlessly entertaining tales.

Links:

• Criterion Collection: Divorce Italian Style | Seduced and Abandoned | Miracle in Milan
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features the following music excerpts from the films’ soundtracks:

• “Canto D’Amore”
• “Orazione Avvocato”
• “Alla deguello”
• “Onore e famiglia”

The post #28: Two Sicilian Love Stories by Pietro Germi first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

Vittorio De Sica explores Italian romance past, present, and future in his award-winning Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Ieri, oggi, domani). Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, this triptych of love stories set in Naples, Milan, and Rome elevates its themes of community, religious devotion, and more through cultural nuances, setting, and musical language.

Plus, some quick news updates on the Venice Film Festival and a review of Simone Godano’s Marilyn’s Eyes (2021).

Links:

• Cinema Italiano Podcast: Marilyn’s Eyes
• News: The Eight Mountains (The Hollywood Reporter)
• Venice Film Festival: Competition | Classics
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features the following music excerpts:

• “Main Title” by Armando Trovajoli
• “Mara” by Armando Trovajoli
• “Abat-Jour” by Henry Wright

The post #32: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica, 1963) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

A conversation with director Maura Delpero on her new film Vermiglio, Italy’s submission for Best International Feature Film and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. In our discussion, Delpero describes the inspiration for the film, her visual references and cinematographic choices, and how the film depicts the paths available to women during the World War II era.

This interview was conducted on December 4, 2024.

Links:

• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The post #49: Interview with Maura Delpero (Vermiglio) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

Cinema Italian Style has gone virtual for 2020, in partnership with the Seattle International Film Festival, who hosted this year’s program on its platform. These films, all released in 2019 and 2020, were curated to represent some of the best of contemporary Italian cinema. This year’s festival ran from Dec. 10-17, 2020, and featured the following films:

• Notturno by Gianfranco Rosi
• Assandira by Salvatore Mereu
• Cosa sarà (Everything’s Gonna Be Alright) by Francesco Bruni
• Padrenostro (Our Father) by Claudio Noce
• Lacci (The Ties) by Daniele Luchetti
• Volevo nascondermi (Hidden Away) by Giorgio Diritti
• Gli uomini d’oro (Golden Men) by Vincenzo Alfieri
• La dea fortuna (The Goddess of Fortune) by Ferzan Ozpetek
• Il campione (The Champion) by Leonardo d’Agostini
• Figli (Kidz) by Giuseppe Bonito

Other Links:

• Cinema Italian Style
• Padrenostro (Our Father)
  • Q&A with director Claudio Noce, hosted at the 56th Chicago International Film Festival
• Lacci (The Ties)
  • Q&A with director Daniele Luchetti, hosted at the 56th Chicago International Film Festival
• Il campione (The Champion)
  • Interview with director Leonardo d’Agostini & co-screenwriter Antonella Lattanzi
  • Jan. 2020 review
• Risate di Gioia (The Passionate Thief)
  • Film Forum’s Virtual Cinema
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features the following music excerpts:

• “La dolce vita” by Nino Rota
• “Trallallera gallurese” by Maria Carta
• “Superclassico” by Aurora Tumiatti
• “Sei forte papa” by Gianni Morandi
• “Non so che darei” by Alan Sorrenti
• “The Beatitudes” by Kronos Quartet
• “Serenata Rap” by Jovanotti
• “La dea fortuna” by Pasquale Catalano
• “7 miliardi” by Jovanotti

The post #19: Cinema Italian Style 2020 first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

This episode explores Abel Ferrara’s Tommaso, a semi-autobiographical tale of an American filmmaker living in Rome with his wife and daughter. An incident forces him to question his role as husband and father, eventually sending him on a destructive journey of paranoia, fear, and hysteria, all while struggling to find community and connection in a foreign land.

Plus, some quick news updates on Il Cinema Ritrovato and the upcoming Essential Fellini box set from the Criterion Collection.

Links:

• Kino Lorber: Tommaso
• Il Cinema Ritrovato
• Criterion Collection: Essential Fellini
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features the following music excerpts:

• “L’Elisir D’Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima” by Benjamino Gigli
• “Nella Villa Di Fregene” by Nino Rota
• “Tu vuo’ fa’ l’americano” by Sophia Loren

https://chtbl.com/track/328E7/cinemaitalianopodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/16-tommaso.mp3

The post #16: Tommaso (Abel Ferrara, 2019) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.