Ciao to Ciao Mastroianni

Ciao to the Ciao Mastroniani Series

The Ciao Mastroianni continues and ends next week.  Federico Fellini’s best work and masterpiece 8 ½ has a screening on July the 2nd Wednesday.  DIVORCE, ITALIAN STYLE has a repeat screening Friday 4th and the difficult to watch but marvellous LA NOTTE by Antonioni has a July 9th screening.  Capsule reviews of the above three films are listed below.

For more details of the program, ticket prices, venue and screening times, please check the Cinematheque Ontario website at:
http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca/

DIVORCE, ITALIAN STYLE (Italy 1961) ****
Directed by Pietro Germi

They do not make romantic comedies like these anymore.  Winner of the Oscar for best screenplay, DIVORCE, ITALIAN STYLE is a remarkably accessible really Italian (or rather Sicilian) flavored romance of how one down on his luck aristocrat, Ferdinando Cefalù (Marcello Mastroianni) rids himself of an annoying wife to wed the teenage girl and cousin (Stefania Sandrelli) of his dreams.  Divorce is out of the question, so Ferfe (as his wife calls him) designs a crime of passion.  Germi shows what a rythmatic film is.  From the opening scene with the heads of the two guards bopping up and down in motion with the train, to the music, lighting, melodic speeches but mostly tuned narrative, DIVORCE marks a Master director working at peak form together with actor Mastroianni at his best.  Germi’s attention to detail and gestures adds to setting and atmosphere of the times.  DIVORCE, ITALIAN STYLE is a perfect companion piece to (and should be seen with) Vittorio De Sica’s MARRIAGE, ITALIAN STYLE also with Mastroianni.
(Screening July 4, Friday)

8 ½ (Italy 1963) *****
Directed by Federico Fellini

Italian Master Federico Fellini’s best film for sure and one that demands repeat viewings for its sheer perfection in every department.  Marcello Mastroianni plays film director Guido (Fellini’s alter ego) suffering from director’s block.  As his producer, actresses, wife and mistresses pester Guido, Guido fades in and out of reality.  The film’s brilliant opening scene (compare this one to LA DOLCE VITA) has Guido floating away in fantasy only to be pulled back into reality by a piece of rope.  The title of the film refers to this being Fellini’s eight and a halved film – a short film counting as a half film.
I first viewed 8 ½ when I was much younger and found the film confusing yet fascinating.  This third viewing allows me to finally appreciate one of the greatest works of the cinema.  A MUST for all film cineastes!  Stunning cinematography by Gianni Di Venanzo, gorgeous costume design, sets (especially the rocket launching pad) and an absolute captivating score by Nino Rota complete the cinematic perfection.

(Screening July 1st, Thursday)

LA NOTTE (France/Italy 1961) ***1/2
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

LA NOTTE reveals the travails of a married couple, a successful writer Giovanni Pontano (Marcello Mastroianni) and wife, Lidia (Jeanne Moreau) during the course of a night when they flirt and discover that they have fallen out of love for each other.  It all begins with an exquisite opening sequence in a hospital visit, the most harrowing ever caught on film.  Antonioni shows the terminal ailing man (Bernhard Wicki) full of life while his visitors drained and drowned lifeless.  Stunningly shot in black and white, the blackness complementing the coldness of the lovers’ state, LA NOTTE is extremely difficult to watch though very much rewarding in terms of emotions (or lack of them) expressed to the viewer.  I had to watch the opening 20 minutes twice (have a review DVD screener) to absorb the mastery of Antonioni’s work.  LA NOTTE is Antonioni at his best!

(Screening July 9th, Wednesday)