Cinematheque Ontario presents Italian Women

SIGNORE AND SIGNORE: LEADING LADIES OF THE ITALIAN CINEMA

A new series of Italian films begins this week at the Cinematheque Ontario.  Entitled SIGNORE AND SIGNORE: LEADING LADIES OF THE ITALIAN CINEMA, the series focuses on leading Italian actresses or stars of the old classics. 

Sophia Loren’s Oscar winning performance in Se Sica’s TWO WOMEN is something that should not be missed. 

The films will run for the next couple of weeks. Capsule reviewed films include
Valerio Zurlini’s Girl with a suitcase, Fellini’s La Strada and Juliet of the spirits, Vittorio De Sica’s Two Women, Visconti’s The Leopard, Pasolini’s Teorema and Luigi Comencini’s Bread, love and dreams

Reviewed films will appear on the site the week (or earlier) as they are screened at the Cinematheque.  Yours truly is trying to catch up on all the films he has to review.

For complete list of films in this program, showtimes, ticket pricing and venue, please click on the Cinematheque Ontario website at:
http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca

Capsule Reviews:-

JULIET OF THE SPIRITS (Italy 1960) ****
Directed by Federico Fellini

Fellini’s first color film exposes him to new discoveries of colored grandeur.  Never mind the thin plot and fluffy storyline, but JULIET OF THE SPIRIT soars.  From the green umbrellas, yellow dresses, multicolored ornaments in the rich mansion of the film’s characters, this is one film that is just stunning to look at from start to finish.  Starring Fellini’s wife Guilietta Masina, the film follows the travails of a similarly named protagonist Guilietta, a lonely loving but abandoned wife of a rich and womanizing businessman.  Never home, he leaves Guilietta to be comforted by the spirits, and thus the title.  Also dreamy and magical, GIULIETTA DELLA SPIRITI feels very similar to Fellini’s later masterpiece 8 ½.  All the above is accompanied by the haunting musical score of Nino Rota.
(Screening at the Cinematheque Ontario on Sunday, July 12th at 7 pm)

LA STRADA (THE ROAD) (Italy 1954) ****
Directed by Federico Fellini

Made in 1954 but released two years later in North America to eventually win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, LA STRADA or THE ROAD is one of Fellini’s films with the strongest narrative.  The story follows the adventures of a not-too-bright but faithful wife (Mrs. Fellini, Guilletta Masina) as she tags along her variety show performer, Zampano (Anthony Quinn in a completely different role) husband.  Zampano claims her as his wife though they never go any formal ceremony.  Masina’s simple performance is just super as she makes the movie.  Masina demonstrates strength amidst vulnerability in a quiet yet sad demonstration of loyalty and duty.  Still, Fellini’s trademark is all present – made even more prominent since the film includes actors from a real circus.
(Screening at the Cinematheque Ontario on Friday, July 17th at 9 pm)

THEOREM (TEOREMA) (Italy 1968) **
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini

The leading lady in this notorious gay director’s film is not Silvana Mangano but British star of the time, Terence Stamp.  Speaking a little Italian, Stamp leaves his mark on an industrialist’s family as he seduces each member, staring with the father and son.  Though no graphic sexual scenes are depicted on screen, THEOREM or TEOREMA (in Itlaian) caused quite a stir when it first opened during its day.  The story of an intruder sexually ‘assaulting’ a bourgeois family has also been done in other films, like the noticeably British fare, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE with Michael York in the Stamp role.  Pasolini leaves his mark as well, imposing his view on various subjects, such as his distaste for painters and Marxist political view.  But his film feels too much of an art film, with the images of his characters floating too slowly on screen to create much of an impact.
(Screening at the Cinematheque Ontario on Saturday, July 11th at 8.45 pm)

TWO WOMEN (Italy 1960) ****
Directed by Vittorio De Sica

The TWO WOMEN of the film title refers to the mother, Cesira (Sophia Loren) and her daughter, Rosetta (Eleanora Brown).  The two flee their successful shop business in Rome when the city is bombed by Allied Forces.  Returning to rural Ciociaria, they encounter a communist intellectual, Michele (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who attracts the attention of both mother and daughter.  Further adventures such as his capture and eventually their capture test their relationship.  De Sica’s film is as rich in the depiction of the war torn atmosphere as well as it dramatizes the interaction of the two women.  Loren is superb as she is beautiful.  Her apology to daughter Rosetta is probably what won her both the Oscar and BAFTA awards for best female leading performance.  Only Belmondo comes across as rather odd as the self righteous intellectual.  Still, De Sica’s film successfully demonstrates the strength of the women’s bonding despite ferocious adversity.
(Screening at the Cinematheque Ontario on Friday, July 10th at 8.45 pm)