BeanScene Magazine

Italian Film Festival

Whether you are after a comedy, thriller, drama, documentary or anything in between, this year’s Italian Film Festival is sure to delight. Organiser of the event, Palace Cinemas, has

sourced the best films from the some of the top film festivals around the world – including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, Rome and Venice. These films will be screened nationally at 13 Palace locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth over a period of six weeks.
“Choosing films for our program is always a very personal experience, as there are so many movies that we long to share with our patrons, particularly as Italian cuisine, fashion and art have become such a vital part of Australian culture. This is truly our most dynamic program yet,” says Festival Director, Elysia Zeccola Hill.

The event will kick off with the film ‘Benvenuti al Sud’ (Welcome to the South) on opening night. Directed by Luca Miniero, this film’s comedic take on the rivalry between Italy’s north and south has seen it gross over 30 million euros at the Italian box office and win several awards. Alberto, played by Claudio Bisio, is a postal worker hoping to transfer to Milan – instead he is sent to Castellabate in the south and his wife is too scared to accompany him. He arrives with many misconceptions but soon falls in love with life in the south.

‘Basilicata Coast to Coast’ is another highlight in the event’s line-up. This film is directed by Rocco Papaleo, an actor who has turned his skills to writing and directing and won the award for Best New Director at the 2011 Italian Academy Awards. Nicola, played by Rocco Papaleo, enters his band into a music festival on the other side of Basilicata and decides to walk there in 10 days with his crew – a journey that would take less than two hours by car. Along the way, the characters and their relationships are revealed.

‘Habemus Papam’ (We Have a Pope) is currently on the 2011 selection list for the Cannes Film Festival; and is the winner of many awards including Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Story, Best Producer and Best Production Design. Starring Nanni Moretti, who is also the director, this film follows the funeral of the Pope and the selection of a successor.

The film ‘18 Anni Dopo’ (18 Years Later), is a warm-hearted road movie and a mix of comedy and drama. It follows the adventures of two brothers as they drive across the Italian countryside.

The warm-hearted film, ‘Un Altro Mondo’ (Another World) sees Andrea, played by Silvio Muccino, leave his wealthy and lazy lifestyle in Rome to visit his dying father in Kenya. When he arrives he finds his father in a coma and also discovers he has an eight year old half brother.

Directed by Marco Bellocchio, ‘Sorelle Mai’ is also a highlight. Starring members of Bellocchio’s family, ‘Sorelle Mai’ was filmed over a ten year period and explores the complex and difficult relationships of its characters. The film has resulted from the director’s experimental medium length film, ‘Sorelle.’ New material has been added to create this full length feature.

‘20 Sigarette’ (20 Cigarettes) is based on director Aureliano Amadei’s 2003 experiences in Iraq. It tells the story of a 28 year old anarchist and anti-war activist who receives an offer to fly to Iraq as assistant director on a film about the Italian military peace mission. Before he is able to finish his packet of 20 cigarettes, he becomes a victim of violence, a sole civilian survivor, a witness and subsequently an unlikely hero. The 2010 Venice Film Festival called this film, “the best anti-war movie that Italy produced in decades. It’s a film debut and it’s all true.”

Directed by Sergio Castellitto, ‘La Bellezza Del Somaro’ (A Family on the Verge) is a take on the classic film ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.’ A couple prepare to meet their daughter’s new boyfriend and their weekend away is turned into utter chaos.

At this year’s festival, award winning actor and director, Toni Servillo, stars in four films. In ‘Gorbaciof,’ Servillo plays the lead role – a lonely crooked accountant by day and a lover of poker and a Chinese girl named Lila by night. He offers to help Lila’s father repay a debt and his life of crime spirals out of control. For his portrayal of the character, Rosario Russo, in the dramatic thriller ‘Una Vita Tranquilla’ (A Quiet Life), Servillo received an award for Best Leading Actor. ‘Il Gioiellino’ (The Jewel), explores the great scandal of Parmalat SpA Italy, which still holds the record for the largest European bankruptcy. While the epic film ‘Noi Credevamo’ (We Believed) commemorates the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification and is set in the 1820s to the 1870s.

Screen legend Robert De Niro also features on the list for this year’s event. He teams with Monica Bellucci in ‘Manuale d’Amore 3’ (The Ages of Love) which is the third installment in the Manual of Love series. In this series, director Giovanni Veronesi has developed three stories to demonstrate the three ages in a man’s life – youth, maturity and beyond.

The film ‘Nessuno Mi Può Giudicare’ (Escort in love) is directed by Massimiliano Bruno and received awards for Best Actress and Best Comedy. Alice, played by Paola Cortellesi, is a housewife in a posh part of Rome and mother to a nine year old son. When her husband is killed in a car accident, she finds herself in debt and facing the risk of losing her son. In a bid to crawl out of her situation, Alice turns to prostitution, seeking the help of another escort, Eva.

John Turturro’s, ‘Passione’ is already tipped to be a favourite among festival goers. This film is an exuberant tribute to the music of Naples and has been chosen for the festival’s closing night special event.

Italian Film Festival dates are:
Melbourne: 14 September – 5 October
Sydney: 15 September – 5 October
Brisbane: 5 October – 23 October
Adelaide: 12 October – 30 October
Perth: 13 October – 26 October

For more info, visit www.italianfilmfestival.com.au.