#31: The Wonders (Alice Rohrwacher, 2014)

Explicit content warning

07/07/22 • -1 min

We visit the world of Tuscan agriculture with Alice Rohrwacher’s The Wonders (Le meraviglie), an award-winning drama about a struggling family of bee farmers, who get a chance to represent their way of life on a TV competition show. This rich film explores the gap between the authentic and artificial, employs the shadow as a fascinating cinematographic symbol, and even has echoes of Fellini films.

Plus, some quick news updates on the Nastro d’Argento awards and a review of Alessandro Guida & Matteo Pilati’s Mascarpone (2021).

Links:

Cinema Italiano Podcast: The Hand of God | Mascarpone | Corpo celeste
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features the following music excerpts:

“Don’t Love Me” by Teresa Mascianà
“T’Appartengo” by Ambra

The post #31: The Wonders (Alice Rohrwacher, 2014) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

Plus, some quick news updates on the Nastro d’Argento awards and a review of Alessandro Guida & Matteo Pilati’s Mascarpone (2021).

Links:

Cinema Italiano Podcast: The Hand of God | Mascarpone | Corpo celeste
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features the following music excerpts:

“Don’t Love Me” by Teresa Mascianà
“T’Appartengo” by Ambra

The post #31: The Wonders (Alice Rohrwacher, 2014) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

Previous Episode

#30: Stromboli (Roberto Rossellini, 1950)

Ingrid Bergman experiences the land of God in Roberto Rossellini’s 1950 film Stromboli. A young woman, Karin, and her new husband move to his homeland of Stromboli, where she struggles to adapt to life in a small town on a volcanic island. This deeply layered work explores isolation and the relationship between man and nature; and even the volcano itself plays a variety of roles: as a mother and provider; a geological manifestation of hell, as the landscape of Karin’s own Divine Comedy; and an encounter with God, full of terror and wonder.

Plus: the David di Donatello awards, the new film Mondocane, tidbits from my trip to Sicily, and more.

Links:

Criterion Collection: Stromboli
Cinema Italiano Podcast: The Hand of God (2021) | Stromboli (1950) review from 2014
Kino Lorber: Mondocane
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This episode features music excerpts from the film’s soundtrack.

The post #30: Stromboli (Roberto Rossellini, 1950) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

Next Episode

#32: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica, 1963)

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: