3rd Italian Film Week, 2011
3-8 June 2011 - 3rd Italian Film Week
In June 2011, the Department of Italian will be hosting the third edition of the Italian Film Week. For the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, the film selected this year deal with the changes in the Italian society and culture over the last 150 years.
The selected docu-films, dramas, and comedies narrate several aspects of political, social, and cultural change to the Italian life style.
To pay homage to the great director Mario Monicelli, who died on 29 November 2010, the closing night is a Homage Night with the screening of one of the absolute masterpieces of Italian Cinema, La grande guerra.
The Opening Night will be in room 140 in Elvet Riverside, Building 1, New Elvet, Durham DH1 3JT.
For all other nights, the films will be shown in room 201 in Elvet Riverside, Building 2, New Elvet, Durham DH1 3JT.
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3 June 2011 7.30 pm ER140 |
In nome del papa re [In the Name of the Pope King], Luigi Magni Year: 1977. Running Time: 105' Drama In 1867 Italian patriots fight to unify the county. Rome stands alone, ruled by the Pope. Monsignor Colombo (Nino Manfredi), a magistrate of the Papal State, is about to resign from his office when some young terrorists blow up the barracks of the government army, the Zouaves. Only then he finds out that one of the suspects is his own 20-year-old natural son. Political conflict, intrigue, murders, and historical events mix within the magnificent narrative directed by Luigi Magni.
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4 June 2011 7.30 pm ER201 |
Il mio paese [My Country], Daniele Vicari Year: 2006. Running time: 108' Docu-film * * * For the first time with English subtitles * * * Retracing the 1960 documentary on the economic boom of the time, L’Italia non è un paese povero by acclaimed director Joris Ivents, this docu-film portrays the current economic situation of Italy to find out what is left of the 1960s dream. Moving between the past and the present, Daniele Vicari’s documentary is a tribute to the original work, a silent criticism of what went wrong, and a depiction of the human landscape of 21st century Italy. Distant from the stereotypical view of Italy experienced by many tourists, Il mio paese provides a view of the complexity of Italian society and the economic difficulties it faces. Subtitles by Ed Osborn
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5 June 2011 7.30 pm ER201 |
Il portaborse [The Yes Man], Daniele Luchetti Year: 1991. Running Time: 93' Comedy * * * For the first time with English subtitles * * * Cesare Botero (Nanni Moretti) is a young minister well-known to be corrupted and corrupter. He is looking for an appropriate spokesman. He finds the right person in Secondary School teacher Luciano Sandulli (Silvio Orlando). Polite, formal, creative, and optimist, Sandulli lives in disastrous financial conditions in a wonderful old house that is falling apart. He immediately accepts the new job as speech-writer. In Rome and meeting the minister, Sandulli is really convinced the young minister wants change the country. Gradually, as his finances and life improve, his career enters into a lawless spiral of intrigues and corruption. Subtitles by: Caroline Arts, Jennifer Bryce, Josephine Dedhar, Katy Hodkinson, Emma Lines, Charles Lobb, Lucy Parmenter, Antony Paul, Hayley Smith. Language consultants: Federica Bertini, Lorenza Buldo, Carolina Carzola, Paola Di Campi, Giulia Ferrari, Federica Moglia, Maria Chiara Rinaldi. Subtitling supervision by: Federica Neri, Ed Osborn, Alessandra Piccirilli.
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6 June 2011 7.30 pm ER201 |
Videocracy - Basta apparire [Videocracy: Appearing is enough], Eric Gandini Year: 2009. Running Time: 81' Docu-film Eric Gandini's docu-film follows the dream of a talented sportsman as a thread to investigate segments of the Italian population and society who are consumed with celebrity worship. The docu-film contains some mild nudity and strong language in the interviews.
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7 June 2011 7.30 pm ER201 |
HOMAGE NIGHT - The tradition of Italian comedy La grande guerra [The Great War], Mario Monicelli Year: 1959. Running Time: 137' Comedy In 1916, Oreste Jacovacci (Alberto Sordi) and Giovanni Busacca (Vittorio Gassman) are called to serve in the front trenches. After trying all tricks in the trade to avoid serving, with Oreste cheating Giovanni with false promises of exemption from conscription, they both meet on the train heading to the Italian front against Austrian troops in the North East of Italy. Oreste and Giovanni become friends and continue with all their combined efforts to avoid spending time at the front line. Stationed in the quite village of Tigliano, they spend some months in relative peace and Giovanni finds time to fall in love for prostitute Costantina (Silvana Mangano). War gets closer and during the most important battle among Italians and Austro-Hungarians, Giovanni and Oreste are in charge to deliver a vital message to the Italian headquarters.
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8 June 2011 7.15 pm ER201 |
Draquila - L'Italia che trema [Draquila, Shaken Italy], Sabina Guzzanti Year: 2010. Running Time: 95' Docu-film Interviews and clips are used by director Sabina Guzzanti to investigate the management of the reconstruction of the city of L'Aquila after the 2009 earthquake. Berlusconi's government and the directors of the institutions in charge of the reconstruction promised a swift return to normality for the citizens of L'Aquila. A year on, the director and her crew interview earthquake victims and experts, unveiling the myth of a perfect management of the emergence and its aftermath. Waste of money, propaganda, and alleged corruption narrate a different reality from the Italian media intent in selling the success story on the management of the reconstruction even to the citizen of L'Aquila. Unfortunately, Sabina Guzzanti declined our invitation on 11 May; her press officer Alice told us 'Sabina is truly sorry to decline but it is impossible for her to travel to the UK in June, as she has work commitments in Rome'. |
- 3rd Italian Film Week Dowloadable programme (last modified: 13 May 2011)
