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NEW FILMS FROM ITALY

November 11-16 at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres

Presented by the American Cinematheque under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles. Co-presented by the Italian Film Commission Los Angeles with the support of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura and ELMA with the patronage of Cinecitta’ Holding.

Join us for a selection of the best of contemporary Italian filmmaking! The series opens with the Cannes Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner and the official Italian entry for the Oscars, Matteo Garrone's GOMORRAH. Also featured are new releases by well-known Italian filmmakers: Antonello Grimaldi’s QUIET CHAOS (starring Nanni Moretti); Ferzan Ozpetek’s A PERFECT DAY; and Italy’s most impressive box office success of the year--Paolo Virzi’s HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD. In addition, three directorial debuts: Venice Film Festival audience favorite PA.RA.DA from director Gillo Pontecorvo’s son Marco Pontecorvo; TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE directed by and starring heart throb actor Silvio Muccino and the confectionary, multi-cultural comedy LESSONS IN CHOCOLATE. The series concludes with Michele Soavi’s BLOOD OF THE LOSERS, a gripping look at the civil war which raged in Italy between Fascists and Partisans at the end of WWII.

Series compiled by Silvia Bizio.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE

Tuesday, November 11 - 7:30 PM

Grand Jury Prize Winner at Cannes Film Festival and the Official Italian Submission for the Oscars!
GOMORRAH (GOMORRA)
2008, IFC Films, 137 min. Dir. Matteo Garrone.

An epic, mesmerizing tour-de-force about Italy’s infamous Camorra crime family.

Introduction by director Matteo Garrone.

Presented by IFC Films, Italian Ministry of Culture, Artemide and Lamborghini.

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AERO THEATRE

Thursday, November 13 - 7:30 PM - Double Feature
PA.RA.DA
2008, Beta Cinema, 100 min. Dir. Marco Pontecorvo.

Directed by the son of filmmaker Gillo Pontecorvo (BATTLE OF ALGIERS), this film recounts the true story of French-Algerian street clown Miloud Oukili, who arrived in Romania in 1992 to reach out to the street children of Bucharest.

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THE PAST IS A FOREIGN LAND
(IL PASSATO E’ UNA TERRA STRANIERA)
2008, Fandango. 127 min. Dir: Daniele Vicari.

A compulsive thriller about the dangerous relationship that forms between a young law student and an unscrupulous card shark. Together their criminal activities escalate. With popular Italian actor Elio Germano and Chiara Caselli.

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Friday, November 14 - 7:30 PM - Double Feature
QUIET CHAOS (CAOS CALMO)
2007, IFC, 112 min. Dir. Antonello Grimaldi.

After the death of his wife, a successful TV executive (Nanni Moretti) and his 10-year old daughter learn to grieve on their own terms and to love again. With Roman Polanski and Isabella Ferrari.

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A PERFECT DAY (UN GIORNO PERFETTO)
2008, Fandango, 105 min.

In the latest film from Ferzan Ozpetek (SACRED HEART) a politician (Valerio Binasco) is desperately seeking re-election in the midst of corruption charges and the disintegration of a relationship. His bodyguard (Valerio Mastandrea) is troubled by his own family problems. Both men are tested and react violently in this microcosm of Italian society. With Isabella Ferrari.

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Saturday, November 15 - 7:30 PM - Double Feature
HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD
(TUTTA LA VITA DAVANTI)
2008, Motorino Amaranto, 89 min. Dir. Paolo Virzi.

A brilliant philosophy graduate (Isabella Ragonese in a star-making turn) can’t get work in her field so she takes a job as a telemarketer. Led by the outrageous Daniela (Sabrina Ferilli), the company fosters a distinctly American style of motivational psychology and cutthroat sales techniques. Incongruously, Marta thrives! An energetic comedy with superb performances, including Elio Germano (MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD).

Official Site

LESSONS IN CHOCOLATE
(LEZIONI DI CIOCCOLATA)
2007, Cattleya, 98 min. Dir. Claudio Cupellini.

In this comedy, building contractor Mattia (Luca Argentero) is about to close his biggest deal when his illegally hired worker Kamal (Hassani Shapi) is injured and threatens to sue unless Mattia takes his place in an advanced course for pastry makers. Mattia has no choice but to pretend to be him, discovering a way to bring his and Kamal’s disparate cultures together. With Violante Placido.

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Sunday, November 16 - 7:30 PM - Double Feature
TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE
(PARLAMI D’AMORE)
2008, Cattleya, 115 min.

Aitana Sanchez-Gijon stars as Nicole, an unhappy housewife who meets Silvio Muccino (who also directs), a man half her age in a fender bender… Soon Nicole is giving Sasha lessons in love to help him win a beautiful girl he has known since he was a boy. But things take an unexpected turn.

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BLOOD OF THE LOSERS
(IL SANGUE DEI VINTI)
2007, Media One, 100 min. Dir. Michele Soavi (CEMETERY MAN).

This extreme journey through the contradictions of Italy’s past sparked controversy at the recent Rome Film Festival. The story revolves around a family that is torn apart by political divisions at the end of WWII. With Michele Placido and Alessandro Preziosi.

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New Films From Italy: detailed listings and more information...

American Cinematheque
Egyptian Theatre 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
Aero Theatre 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
www.americancinematheque.com - 323.466.FILM - tickets: www.fandango.com

Special thanks to Acqua di Parma, Damiani, Ferragamo, Ferrari Spumante, Solavie and Spiral Foundation.