Italian Film Days

Anita Ekberg dives into Fontana di Trevi in front of a startled Marcello Mastroianni. Antonio and his son search for the former’s bicycle in a Rome ravaged by poverty. The passengers of a leaving train make the mistake of peeking out of the windows, only to be wantonly slapped in the face by a bunch of perennial teenagers. Just before a movie theater is reduced to rubble, Salvatore bursts into tears watching the present Alfredo has kept for him. All the scrapbooks in the world would not be large enough to contain the unique moments that Italian cinema has given us. For decades Italy had been the leading cinematic nation in Europe, until its sudden decline in the early nineties.

However, something has been stirring in our neighboring country lately. As new directors emerge, and festivals and distributors begin once again to express keen interest in material from Italy, Italian cinema seems ready to conquer the world one more time. The “Italian Days” section features some of the best Italian movies of the year, all notable examples of this innovative wave. Three years after the explosive “Human Capital”, Paolo Virzi follows two women on the road to freedom in “Like Crazy”. In “The Wait” Piero Messina transforms Juliette Binoche into a matronly Mediterranean figure, managing to portray her grief. A romance blooms behind prison walls in Claudio Giovannesi’s “Fiore”. Two conjoined sisters face a difficult dilemma in Edoardo De Angelis’ “Indivisibili”. Roberto Ando combines mystery with metaphysics in “The Confessions”. Finally, Stefano Sollima’s “Suburra” is a fascinating story of corruption, set in an always rainy Rome.

Can these movies measure up to Italy’s rich cinematic past? Let’s find out together in the movie theaters of the festival. Giannis Basileiou

Like Crazy

Bathed in the magical Tuscany light and embellished with humour and pathos, "Like Crazy" is a variation on "Thelma and Louise", in which two women escape from a psychiatric clinic and experience an adventure full of unexpected events. With excellent performances by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti, the new film by the director of "Human Capital" is a delightful road movie, which expertly oscillates between comedy and drama.

Fiore

The beautiful and rebellious Daphne is arrested for theft and is led to a juvenile prison, where she meets and falls in love with Josh. Is their love strong enough to take down the surrounding bars and the four walls separating them? Straight from the Director's Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival, a tender, rousing film which, although hailing from Italy, could have been made by Francois Truffaut.

Indivisibility

On the verge of turning 18, two Napolitan Siamese sisters, who earn a living by performing, are told that they can finally be separated with a surgical operation. The sensitive performances by Angela and Marianna Fontana are at the heart of this deeply touching film, screened at the Venice and Toronto film festivals.

The Wait

Anna is surprised by the unexpected visit of her son's girlfriend and has to carefully conceal a crucial detail, which threatens to drastically alter their situation. Upon this unusual premise, Paolo Sorrentino's ("The Great Beauty") right-hand man builds his own promising directorial debut, weaving a complex emotional web, held together by a staggering performance by Juliette Binoche.

Confessions

During a G8 summit, moments before he signs an agreement which will determine the future of the world, the Managing Director of the IMF is found dead in his room. The only person who knows exactly what happened is a mysterious monk. Boasting a dense mystery, plenty of intrigue and a metaphysical touch, ?The Confessions? is the new film by the director of ?Viva la Liberta?, with a staggering performance by Tony Servillo and wonderful music by Nicola Piovani.

Suburra

A gangster named Samurai nurtures an ambition of transforming Rome into a new Las Vegas, but a series of unexpected events turn the area -and the screen- to an embattled zone. Set to a sweeping M83 soundtrack, the director of TV's ?Gomorrah? excels in the modern gangster drama genre with this explosive story of political machinations and organized crime.