ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL OPENS THIS WEDNESDAY
September 23rd 2008 07:40
HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD is a very clever satire that centres on the lives, loves and struggles of employees at an Italian Call Centre. Isabelle Ragonese (a name you will see a lot more on both Italian and International credits in the coming future) plays Marta, a philosophy student working in the call centre after a chance encounter with a young working mother (Sabrina Ferilli) while she searches for work in her chosen field. A biting satire on Italian society, director Paolo Virzi is not afraid to say what’s on his mind.
This week the festival opens in Sydney and the ex-patriot Italian community in New South Wales is just as passionate as their southern cousins when it comes to supporting their homeland film industry. Norton Street Leichardt is the home for the NSW slice of the Italian Film Festival. With a gala night set down for this Wednesday the 24th of September, organisers have decided to open once again with HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD to kick off ten days of festivities surrounding this year’s festival.
With two weeks of contemporary cinema and retrospectives everyone can look forward to finding something to see. For those generations of Italians born in Australia, you can’t go past ‘Parlami D’Amore’ (SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE) a story of lust and betrayal that just shows that sometimes you cant escape from where you came from.
For those are a little older, ‘Days and Clouds’ is sure to be a favourite amongst audiences around Australia. One of Italy’s finest actresses Margherita Buy headlines a wonderful cast in this tale of what is unfortunately a reality for many people today. An upper middle class family suddenly realise that they are left with next to nothing after Michele’s (Antonio Albanese) partners push him out of the company he helped to found. Elsa (Buy) is forced to resort to working as a secretary to provide an income as Michele struggles to come to terms that he can no longer provide any security for his family. Director Silvio Soldini has created a poignant piece of cinema that will keep you engrossed right up until its unexpectedly abrupt end.
In Sydney director Soldini will be on hand Monday the 6th and Wednesday the 8th at PALACE NORTON and Tuesday the 7th at the ACADEMY TWIN in Paddington.
‘Íl Divo’ tells the story of 89 year old Giulio Andreotti, who has spent the last 62 years firmly entrenched in the Italian Parliament. Here is a documentary on a man who has managed to survive where most have failed even managing to avoid conviction on charges of corruption and Mafia involvement. This too will be sure to attract a full house.
This years retrospective promises to satisfy everyone’s needs with Mauro Bologni’s 1961 classic ‘La Viaccia’ and everyone’s favourite Italian Siren Claudia Cardinale in ‘Il Magnifico Cornuto’. Terence Hill and Bud Spencer two icons of 70’s Spaghetti Westerns star in this comedy that had to be the inspiration for Mel Brooks BLAZING SADDLES with ‘LoChiamavano Trinita’ (THEY CALL ME TRINITY).
The festival will continue it’s national tour opening next in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide before the late opening in November in Canberra.
NATIONAL DATES FOR THE LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2008 ARE:
Melbourne Sept 17 ¬-Oct 5 Palace Balwyn, Cinema Como,Palace Westgarth & Kino
Sydney Sept 24-Oct 12 Palace Norton Street & Academy Twin
Brisbane Oct 1-19 Palace Centro Cinemas
Perth Oct 15-29 Cinema Paradiso & Luna on SX
Adelaide Oct 16 -29 Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Canberra Nov 13 - 23 Greater Union Manuka
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au
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SimonC
