Choosing films from the most famous Italian directors including Federico Fellini, Gianni Amelio, Vittorio de Sica and Marco Tullio Giordana this introductory course will identify Italian cinematic trends, and through an analysis of both classic and contemporary Italian films, Adalgisa Serio will discuss cinema in the wider context of Italian society. Case studies include an homage to the recently deceased Italian producer Carlo Ponti.
Adalgisa Serio is Italian Lecturer at MANCAT and CDLCI and freelance Language Teacher Adviser for Italian.
Beginners’ level, no prior knowledge necessary.
£50 full / £35 concs.
Course outline
Wed 2 May : Introduction
Overview of course. What is Neorealism? A cinematic revolution with Roberto Rossellini’s Roma Citta` Aperta. Comparisons with Vittorio De Sica’s Ladri di Biciclette.
Cinema 1 Education Space
Wed 9 May: Beyond Neorealism
Analysing extracts from Federico Fellini’s La Strada (a Carlo Ponti co-production) and Le Notti di Cabiria, we will look at how Fellini overcame Neorealism.
Cinema 1 Education Space
- Wed 16 May: A Homage to Carlo Ponti
Through an analysis of the Oscar winning film La Ciociara (Two Women), we will see how the producer Carlo Ponti contributed to the success of the Italian Film Industry, exporting it abroad and how he created the internationally acclaimed myth which is Sofia Loren.
Cinema 1 Education Space
- Wed 23 May: Gianni Amelio
We will explore contemporary Italian social issues (emigration and immigration) through two films (Lamerica and Cosi`ridevano – The way we laughed ) of this highly socially committed film director. A return to Neorealism?
Cinema 1 Education Space
- Wed 30 May: Screening
I VITELLONI (Federico Fellini, 1953)
Cinema 3
- Wed 6 June: Break – no course
- Wed 13 June: Marco Tullio Giordana
We will analyse the film I Cento Passi (One Hundred Steps) based on a real story, the murder of Peppino Impastato by the local mafia and the impact the event had on Italian people.
Cinema 1 Education Space
- Wed 20 June: Paolo Sorrentino
Through a comparison between Le conseguenze dell’amore (The Consequences of Love) and the previous film I cento Passi, we will compare how mafia issues can be represented through different perspectives and points of view.
Cinema 1 Education Space
- Wed 27 June: Screening and Conclusions
LE CHIAVI DI CASA (The Keys To The House) (Amelio, 2004)
Cinema (tba) followed by discussion
There’s no prior reading required for this course but course participants may be interested in the following books.
Millicent Marcus: Italian Film in the Light of Neorealism
Peter Bondanella: Italian Cinema, from Neorealism to the present
Although it can be hard to find Italian films with English subtitles, Ebay together with the Amazon website can be invaluable sources. And of course you can always check cinemas like Cornerhouse for re-runs on the big screen
- Roberto Rossellini
Roma Citta`Aperta (Rome Open City, 1945)
Paisa` (Paisan, 1946 )
Viaggio in Italia (Voyage in Italy, 1953 )
Vittorio De Sica
Ladri di Biciclette (Bicycle thieves, 1948)
Sciuscia` (Shoeshine, 1946)
Umberto D. (1951)
La Ciociara (Two women, 1960)
- Federico Fellini
I Vitelloni (1953 )
La Strada (1954)
Le Notti di Cabiria (The Nights of Cabiria, 1957)
Fellini Satyricon (Satyricon 1969)
Amarcord ( 1974 )
Prova d’Orchestra (Orchestra Rehearsal, 1979)
- Gianni Amelio
Il Ladro di bambini (Stolen children, 1992 )
Lamerica (1994 )
Cosi`ridevano (The Way we Laughed, 1998 )
Le chiavi di casa (The Keys to the House, 2004 )
La stella che non c’e` (The Missing Star, 2006 )
- Marco Tullio Giordana
I Cento Passi (One Hundred Steps, 2000 )
La Meglio Gioventu`(The Best of Youth, 2003 )
- Paolo Sorrentino
Le Conseguenze dell’amore (The Consequences of Love, 2004 )
L’Amico di Famiglia (The Family Friend, 2006 )
Cornerhouse does not accept responsibility for any external websites
http://www.italica.rai.it/eng/cinema/index.htm
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/italians/resources/Amiciprize/1996/
This provides an analysis of Rossellini’s films and neorealism in general
http://www.inblackandwhite.com/FedericoFelliniv2.0/
www.greencine.com/article?action=view&articleID=258
An interview with Gianni Amelio about his work
www.italiaplease.com/eng/megazine/spotlights/2001/02/hundred/briguglia/index.html
www.centroimpastato.it/otherlang/inglese.php3
Both sites are dedicated to M.T.Giordana’s One Hundred Steps and the life and murder of Giuseppe Impastato, portrayed in the film
www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/2337/
www.twitchfilm.net/archives/003743.html
Reviews of the filmThe Consequences of Love By Paolo Sorrentino