Italy's cinema festival ranges from classics like Marriage
Italian Style to acclaimed contemporary films that explore
hopes, dreams and everyday life such as The Last Kiss
about frivolous young men panicked by the prospect of settling
down.
Thirty outstanding Italian films - classic, contemporary and
memorable - will be screened from January 19 to 28 in the movie
festival, "Italiana - Cinema Explores Italy."
The film festival made its world premiere in China when it
opened first in Beijing. Films will be screened in four Shanghai
cinemas: the Shanghai Film Art Center, Stellar Cinema City, Cathay
Theater and the UME International Cineplex.
"Chinese moviegoers will have the opportunity to watch some of
the best films reflecting the dreams, hopes and everyday life in
Italy," says Francesco Carducci, CEO of Cinecitta Holdings,
organizer of the festival.
Most of the 30 movies have won international honors such as
Federico Fellini's classic La Dolce Vita (The Sweet
Life), Nanni Moretti's La Stanza Del Figlio (The
Son's Room), and Pietro Germi's Serafino.
Naturally Marriage Italian Style starring Sophia Loren
is high on the list. The festival will open with director Gabriele
Muccino's acclaimed L'ultimo Bacio (The Last
Kiss). It's a comedy romance that interweaves the tales of a
group of young men who panic at the prospect of settling down. It's
considered by some "the love story of all love stories."
It was one of Italy's highest-grossing films and actress
Stefania Sandrelli was named Best European Actress by the European
Film Academy in 2001. It also won five Donatello Awards (the
Italian Oscars) including Best Director in 2001 and the World
Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002.
The emotional family drama The Son's Room won the Palme
d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001. It depicts the harrowing
psychological effects on a couple on the death of their son. The
once tight-knit, happy family must come to terms with the loss and
get on with their lives. Director Moretti creates the fiction so
well that it's hard to believe it's not a documentary.
The Missing Star, a road movie by award-winning
director Gianni Amelio, traces a trip from Italy to China. It was
filmed across China's vast landscape. It's about an Italian worker
who goes to China in search of a steel mill in the hope of
preventing a fatal industrial accident.
During the festival Italian actress Maria Cucinotta (The
Postman and Picking Up the Pieces) and Italian film
officials will exchange views with fans and seek possibilities for
future collaborations with Chinese filmmakers.
Italy produces around 100 films a year and generates about
US$1.6 billion in ticket sales. A big sum for a nation with just 55
million people. Its art-house films are widely appreciated
worldwide.
"We used to see Italian masterpieces on DVDs or small-scale
screenings at film salons or universities," says Mark Zhang, a
student from Fudan University. "The film exhibition is a rare
opportunity for us to learn more about the brilliant Italian
cinema."
The year 2006 was also the Year of Italy in China. "Presenting
the beauty of Italy through movies 'Italiana' will be a prefect
conclusion to the cultural gala," says Paolo Sabatini of the
Italian Consulate General in Shanghai.
All the films will be shown uncut in their original versions
with both Chinese and English subtitles. Tickets will be priced
from 40 (US$5.13) to 50 yuan.
(Shanghai Daily January 18, 2007)