<<< October 6 - 16, 2005 >>>

Presented by American Cinematheque and Cinecittą Holding - Rome 

Some films in this series will also be at the Aero Theatre October 7 - 13

www.cinemaitalianstyle.org

Presented in association with A.I.P. FilmItalia and the Italian Film Commission, with the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Culture, and in collaboration with the Italian Consulate and the Italian Cultural Institute.

Continuing in the glorious tradition of such filmmakers as Michelangelo Antonioni (whose complete retrospective in new prints from Cinecittą Holding screens at the L.A. County Museum in September), Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luchino Visconti and Bernardo Bertolucci, contemporary Italian cinema remains among the most vibrant and unpredictable anywhere in Europe, examining and celebrating an Italy both ancient and modern, pastoral and urban.

This two-week showcase of the best and most challenging in new Italian filmmaking opens with the bittersweet comedy MANUAL OF LOVE from director Giovanni Veronesi, the biggest Italian box office hit of the past year.

The series closes with the L.A. Premiere of director Pupi Avati’s SO WHEN ARE THE GIRLS COMING?, a jazz-themed portrait of the friendship between three "Gen X" Italian youths.

The series features recent films from acclaimed directors including Cristina Comencini’s gripping emotional drama, DON’T TELL; Marco Tullio Giordana (BEST OF YOUTH), with his latest ONCE YOU ARE BORN … (QUANDO SEI NATO NON PUOI PIŁ NASCONDERTI), about the collision between a wealthy Italian family and a boatload of illegal immigrants; Ettore Scola’s loving portrait of one of Neorealist Italian Cinema’s greatest screenwriters, Sergio Amidei; and Academy Award-winning director Gabriele Salvatores (MEDITERRANEO) with the offbeat, female private eye thriller QUO VADIS, BABY?

Emerging filmmakers in the series include director Roberto Faenza, with the hard-hitting Mafia drama COME INTO THE LIGHT; Giuseppe Piccioni, with THE LIFE I WANT, a surprising, behind-the-scenes romance about an actor and actress who fall in love both on-screen and off-; Michele Placido, with the hotly-anticipated crime epic ROMANZO CRIMINALE; plus a program of the best of "New Italian Short Films."

The series will also feature several classics of Italian Cinema, including Vittorio De Sica’s YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW (IERI, OGGI E DOMANI), starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, and De Sica’s legendary Neorealist classic SHOESHINE (SCIUSCIĄ), along with the Los Angeles Premiere of Michelangelo Antonioni’s lost, 3-1/2 hour documentary on modern China, CHUNG KUO-CINA from 1972!

Special "Cinema Italian Style" Ticket Offer: Buy a series pass good for 10 general admissions at the Egyptian and/or Aero Theatres for $80.00 ($1.00 off regular ticket price per show).

[All films in Italian with English subtitles.]

Thursday, October 6 – 7:30 PM

Opening Night:

MANUALE D’AMORE (MANUAL OF LOVE), 2005, FilmAuro, 90 min. Dir. Giovanni Veronesi. The biggest Italian box office hit of the year, MANUALE D’AMORE is a fresh, bittersweet comedy about the elusive, sometimes painful, always painfully funny nature of Love, divided into four episodes, all featuring Italy’s best contemporary performers. The innocent, dreamlike stage of falling in love is depicted through the romance of a young couple (Silvio Muccino, WHAT WILL BECOME OF US? and Jasmine Trinca, BEST OF YOUTH); the heartwrenching phase of the mid-life crisis (Sergio Rubini, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, and Margherita Buy); the impulsive and frenetic epiphany of a betrayal (Luciana Littizzetto and Dino Abbrescia, I’M NOT SCARED); and the lonesome, tragic but, in the end revitalizing free-fall of being abandoned (Carlo Verdone). Introduction to film by director Giovanni Veronesi.

LA BESTIA NEL CUORE (DON’T TELL), 2005, Cattleya, 122 min. Director Cristina Comencini’s (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY OF MY LIFE) dark and gritty drama, fresh from the Venice Film Festival official selection, is based on her own acclaimed novel. The notion of "beast" in the film and in the novel are linked to a dark and uncontrollable side of the human mind and behavior. When Sabrina (Giovanna Mezzogiorno, FACING WINDOW), a happily engaged-to-be-married young woman, finds out she’s pregnant, terrible secrets from her family’s past start to re-emerge. Also starring Alessio Boni (BEST OF YOUTH, ONCE YOU ARE BORN…), Giuseppe Battiston, Angela Finocchiaro. Director Cristina Comencini will not be able to appear as was previously announced.

ALLA LUCE DEL SOLE (COME INTO THE LIGHT), 2005, Vigo Prod., 85 min. Starring Luca Zingaretti, Alessia Goria, Corrado Fortuna. Based on the true life story of Don Puglisi, a priest killed by the Mafia in 1993 at the same time as the assassinations of anti-mafia task force judges Falcone and Borsellino, this is a brisk, hard-hitting example of classic Italian social cinema ("cinema d’impegno", in the tradition of Francesco Rosi and Elio Petri). Director Roberto Faenza is a veteran filmmaker with a keen political eye, known for such hard-edged dramas as FORZA ITALIA! (1977) and COPKILLER (1983). Director Roberto Faenza will not be able to appear in person as was previously announced.

QUO VADIS, BABY?, 2005, Colorado Films, 102 min. The latest film from Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores (MEDITERRANEO), QUO VADIS BABY? is the story of a female private investigator who leads a self-destructive, almost Bukowski-esque life. Suddenly one day, her past comes knocking violently on the door as she’s forced to re-confront her long-dead sister’s apparent suicide. A uniquely atmospheric and surprising film noir. Starring Gigi Alberti, Angela Baraldi, Luigi Maria Burrano and Elio Germano. Discussion following with actress Angela Baraldi. Director Gabriele Salvatores will not be in attendance as was previously announced.

"New Italian Shorts Program"

An exciting selection of new short films produced in Italy and also two by Italians living in Los Angeles. Stefano Viali’s "Lotta Libera" (Wrestling Match, 15 min.) Two adversaries test their physical and mental prowess. Gianni Gatti’s "Offerte Speciali" (Today’s Specials, 7 min.) An old Italian wives’ tale comes true in the supermarket. Francesco Cstabile’s "L’ Armadio" (The Wardrobe, 10 min.) A young girl can only escape her room through her wardrobe. Alessandro Violi’s "Cantrait" (5 min.) Dramatic animated rejuvenation of the myth of the American West. Erika Tasini’s "Winter Sea" (25 min, English.) An enclosed family unit is blown apart when an interloper arrives. Gigi Roccati's "Chloe Travels Time" (23 min). Chloe travels on her own clock, which gets her into some interesting situations with her regimented, controlling boyfriend.

More films to be confirmed, please check our website for additional titles at: www.americancinematheque.com Director Erika Tasini ("Winter Sea") & Gigi Roccati ("Chloe Travels Time") will appear for Q&A after the screening.

LA BESTIA NEL CUORE (DON’T TELL), 2005, Cattleya, 122 min. Director Cristina Comencini’s (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY OF MY LIFE) dark and gritty drama, fresh from the Venice Film Festival official selection, is based on her own acclaimed novel. The notion of "beast" in the film and in the novel are linked to a dark and uncontrollable side of the human mind and behavior. When Sabrina (Giovanna Mezzogiorno, FACING WINDOW), a happily engaged-to-be-married young woman, finds out she’s pregnant, terrible secrets from her family’s past start to re-emerge. Also starring Alessio Boni (BEST OF YOUTH, ONCE YOU ARE BORN…), Giuseppe Battiston, Angela Finocchiaro. Director Cristina Comencini will not be able to appear as was previously announced.

ROMANZO CRIMINALE, 2005, Cattleya, 150 min. One of the most hotly anticipated Italian films of the year, from actor/director Michele Placido, ROMANZO CRIMINALE traces the "underground history" of Rome’s organized crime from the 1970’s to the 1990’s. The cast includes some of the freshest and most gifted Italian talents: Kim Rossi Stuart, Stefano Accorsi, Luigi Angelillo, Toni Bertorelli, Pierfrancesco Favino, Anna Mouglasis and Jasmine Trinca. Based on the novel by Giancarlo De Cataldo and written by Sandro Petraglia (ONCE YOU ARE BORN…, BEST OF YOUTH).

>> Also showing at the Aero Theatre on October 8.

Tuesday, October 11 – 7:30 PM

Ultra Rare Antonioni – L.A. Premiere!

CHUNG KUO – CINA (CHINA), 1972, Cinecitta Holding, 217 min. total. In 1972, director Michelangelo Antonioni was invited to China to shoot a documentary on the current state of the country and its people. In true Antonioni style, the film wound up being a unique, highly personal view of the nation filtered through his eyes. Not surprisingly, the film was condemned by the Chinese authorities; arguably the rarest of Antonioni’s films, it makes it’s long-overdue Los Angeles premiere here, as an adjunct to the major Antonionio Retrospective presented in September by the L.A. County Museum and Cinecitta’ Holding! [Shown in three episodes with a 5 min. break between each.] NOT ON VIDEO!

LA VITA CHE VORREI (THE LIFE I WANT), 2004, 01 Distribuzione, 125 min. Dir. Giuseppe Piccioni. Luigi Lo Cascio (BEST OF YOUTH) and Sandra Ceccarelli (THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE), star as Stefano and Laura, two professional actors who’ve been hired to act as passionate lovers in a grand period movie. But offscreen, the two lead very regular, sometimes lonely lives. Almost inevitably, they begin to develop a romantic attraction that they can only express completely on the movie set. An intimate drama that captures the essence of both beginning love and film as a parallel, alternative reality. Also Starring Antonio Bruschetta, Fabio Camilli, Roberto Citran and Camilla Filippi. Discussion following with director Giuseppe Piccioni.

IERI, OGGI, DOMANI (YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW), 1963, 118 min. Dir. Vittorio De Sica. The Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW solidified Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren’s status as icons of Italian cinema, and offered Loren a delicious trio of comic roles: as Anna, a pregnant black marketeer in Naples; as Anna, a bored rich girl in Milan who cares more for her Rolls Royce than her current loverboy; and Mara, a Rome prostitute who collides with a young seminary student and his outraged granny! Introduction to screening by Brando De Sica, Vittorio De Sica’s grandson.

QUANDO SEI NATO NON PUOI PIŁ NASCONDERTI (ONCE YOU ARE BORN …), 2005, 01 Distribuzione/TF1 Int’l, 115 min. Director Marco Tullio Giordana (BEST OF YOUTH) returns with another tremendous, powerfully-acted drama of hearts and souls in turmoil, yearning for some place of safety. The son of well-to-do parents falls overboard while arguing with his father, and is miraculously saved by a boat filled with illegal immigrants. Giordana has the power to master difficult, deep and delicate stories without running into over-the-top melodramatic pathos. Starring Alessio Boni (BEST OF YOUTH), Michela Crescon, Rodolfo Corsato (MANUAL OF LOVE) and Matteo Gadola.

Saturday, October 15 – 8:30 PM

Double Feature:

SERGIO AMIDEI -- Ritratto di uno Scrittore di Cinema, 2005, Luna Rossa Cinematografica, 60 min. Director Ettore Scola and his daughter, Silvia, collaborated on this superb portrait of one of the forgotten giants of Italian Neorealist Cinema, screenwriter Sergio Amidei, who was nominated four times for the Academy Award for his work on OPEN CITY, SHOESHINE, PAISAN and GENERALE DELLA ROVERE. A strong anti-Fascist, who also participated in the Communist Party, Amidei managed to fuse his personal and political beliefs with his screenwriting genius, along the way influencing not only Italian but world cinema.

SCIUSCIA (SHOESHINE), 1946, 93 min. Dir. Vittorio De Sica. A dramatic and touching statement on the human and social conditions of Italian youth during the depressed years following WWII. Written by Sergio Amidei and performed by non-professional young actors, this is the story of "sciuscia" boys (the malapropism they use to lure wealthy foreigners that need "their shoes shined") in Rome and how their needs to grow up quickly in order to survive. Starring Franco Interlenghi (ROMANZO CRIMINALE), Rinaldo Smordoni, Annielo Mele, Bruno Ortenzi, Emilio Cigoli.

Sunday, October 16 – 6:00 PM

Closing Night:

MA QUANDO ARRIVANO LE RAGAZZE? (SO WHEN ARE THE GIRLS COMING?), 2005, 01 Distribuzione , 146 min. One of Italian cinema’s finest filmmakers, Pupi Avati (INCANTATO, THE STORY OF BOYS & GIRLS) returns with the fifth movie inspired by the flowing rhythms of jazz music. Nick (Claudio Santamaria, THE LAST KISS), Gianca (Paolo Briguglia, GOOD MORNING NIGHT) and Francesca (Vittoria Puccini) are three "Generation X" Italians faced with numerous romantic, professional and familial crises. With music by legendary composer Riz Ortolani (MONDO CANE, BROTHER SUN SISTER MOON). Discussion following with actor Claudio Santamaria. Director Pupi Avati will not be coming as was originally announced.

An Egyptian Theatre Exclusive!