Festival films reflect Italian diversity
Cinema Italiano’s second edition will kick off in Christchurch tonight.
The annual celebration of Italian cinema, which replaced the long-running Italian Film Festival last year, is offering up an eclectic range of 20 titles at Academy Gold Cinemas over the next 12 days.
It will also visit Nelson, Tauranga, Havelock North, Auckland, Wellington and Napier over the following six months. Delighted with how the first year went, festival director and former Shortland Street actor Paolo Rotondo says his aim to provide New Zealand audiences with a selection that is reflective of what is coming out of Italy now.
‘‘There are some broad, accessible films in the line-up, but I’ve also got some amazing documentaries [including the Oscar-nominated Fire at Sea, which Rotondo describes as ‘‘a masterpiece’’] and some beautifully crafted Italian drama. I’m really inspired by what Bill Gosden does with the NZ International Film Festival – he just gets the best films from around the world.’’
We had the opportunity to preview a selection of titles:
The Confessions
An international cast that includes Toni Servillo, Daniel Auteuil, Moritz Bleibtreu and Connie Nielsen star in this Agatha Christie-style thriller about a gathering of international financiers whose summit is disrupted when their head appears to commit suicide. The last man to see him? A silent monk who he had invited along, apparently to confess his sins to.
Duel of Wine
A global battle to find the ‘‘best palate of all times’’ is the focus of this oddball comedy. Having famously and publicly fallen from grace, Charlie Arturaola is determined to claim the crown (and wife Pandora), either by proxy via his best-mate Lino or as the mysterious ‘‘Masked Count’’. A terrific send-up of sommeliers and reality competitions.
Ever Been to the Moon?
What starts out as A Devil Wears Prada-style comedy quickly turns into something more akin to Sweet Home Alabama as rising Milanbased Marie Claire journalist Guia (Liz Solari) inherits the family farm. There she meets a cadre of charming and challenging characters from an oddball cousin to swarthy widower Renzo (Raoul Bova). Notable for not following Hollywood rom-com traditions and using beguiling acoustic covers of classic 1980s hits like Bette Davis Eyes, Take on Me and Don’t You Want Me.
Italian Race
Fans of McLaren and Rush should check out this compelling family drama, loosely based on the life of Italian rally driver Carlo Capone. Set in the world of Gran Turismo racing, it sees former champion driver Loris ‘‘the dancer’’ De Martino (Stefano Accorsi) forced back into the pits when his father dies and his teenage sister Giulia (an impressive Matilda De Angelis) must win the title in order to save the family home.
Roman Holiday
Winner of seven Academy Awards, William Wyler’s tale of a princess who falls for an American newsman in Rome is the perfect opening night crowdpleaser. Still one of cinema’s most beloved romantic-comedies, it features Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn at the peak of their charismatic powers. ❚ Christchurch is celebrating the arrival of Cinema Italiano 2017 with Ciao Italia, a showcase of Italian fun, food and fanfare from 6pm to 9.30pm tonight at The Colombo cinema. The special event has been organised by the The Italian Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand (ICCNZ), with the local support of Christchurch Dante Society. For further information about the film festival, as well as session times, other venues and dates, see cinemaitalianonz.com