L'Italo-Americano

LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY www.italoamericano.org 8 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 2023 L'Italo-Americano " Los Angeles is a fun- damental place for those who love cine- m a a n d f o r t h o s e who are part of the industry. In my case, it is also the place where the success of my career with Nuovo Cine- ma Paradiso started. I owe much, if not everything, to what happened here 33 years ago." On stage at the David Geffen Theater inside the A c a d e m y M u s e u m , G i u s e p p e T o r n a t o r e recalls when in 1990 his film, heralded by American actor Jack Lemmon, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The Sicilian director flew to California together with the family of Ennio Morri- cone, his longtime collabora- tor, not only to attend the screening of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso in the Oscar®Sun- days section but also that of Ennio, a documentary that closed the New Italian Cin- ema / Nuovo Cinema Ital- iano section on October 4. The extraordinary documen- tary that Giuseppe Tornatore directed on the great musi- cian, winner of two Oscars (for Lifetime Achievement and for The Hateful Eight), is i d e a l l y c o n n e c t e d t o t h e Soundtracks of a Master of Cinema review, dedicat- ed to the composer's genius. C o n s u l G e n e r a l i n L o s Angeles Raffaella Valenti- ni introduced the event with meaningful words, both for the artists celebrated and the Italian-American community as a whole: "Tonight we cele- brate two great maestros of Italian cinema, their talent, their special Italian genius, their love for art and their believing in the power of dreams. Tonight through Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, we are also going to honor the beautiful friendship between Ennio and Giuseppe. A time- less friendship, just as time- less is the friendship between Italy and the United States. A true and deep partnership built on our common values o f f r e e d o m , e q u a l i t y a n d democracy." Later in the evening, Tor- natore told us that "Ennio Morricone has been a key fig- ure in my films. Nuovo Cine- m a P a r a d i s o i s a f i l m w e made together, It's a very emotional experience to be here after all these years, remembering and paying h o m a g e t o h i m t h r o u g h screenings of Italian films and films he scored." In the 'Oscar®Sundays section - which opened with Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, the movie where the Tornatore- M o r r i c o n e c o l l a b o r a t i o n began - three films set to music by Ennio Morricone will be screened: Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven, B r i a n D e P a l m a ' s T h e Untouchables and Quentin T a r a n t i n o ' s T h e H a t e f u l Eight. " While collaborating on Nuovo Cinema Paradiso with Ennio, a strong emotional c o n n e c t i o n w a s f o r m e d between us. We continued to see each other for 32 years, and our relationship grew beyond just a professional one. However, we always made sure to keep our friend- ship separate from our work. What do I miss about him? Many things. His generosity, his rigor, his friendliness. Also and especially his cre- ativity: his ability to enter a narrative context naturally, immediately finding musical solutions that could always surprise," the director con- cludes. The tribute to Morricone begins after a month packed with New Italian Cinema / N u o v o C i n e m a I t a l i a n o screenings, proving that Ital- ian cinema, which has been awarded more Oscars than any other foreign cinematog- raphy, is highly appreciated in the US. Since Sept. 6, audi- ences have filled the halls of the Academy Museum to see films by Gianfranco Rosi, P i e t r o M a r c e l l o , L u c a Guadagnino, Alice Rohrwach- er, Francesco Munzi, Emma Dante, Laura Bispuri, and Adele Tulli (Notturno, Martin E d e n , S u s p i r i a , L a z z a r o Felice, Futura, The Macaluso Sisters, Figlia Mia, Normal). "The tribute of a global institution such as the Acade- my Museum pays to our most recent cinema is not only an honor but also an authorita- tive attestation to the vitality of our production," Nicola Maccanico, CEO of Cinecittà, said. "The films selected by the Academy in New Italian Cinema are works by estab- lished filmmakers who have won awards at major festi- vals. Cinecittà constantly a c c o m p a n i e s t h e s e f i l m s abroad. The reception of the Academy Museum and the t r i b u t e t o M a e s t r o E n n i o Morricone inspire us to con- tinue." Consul General Valentini also underlined the connec- t i o n a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n between Cinecittà and the Academy Museum, which she defined as "an unshakable alliance, of which all of us Americans and Italians pre- sent here tonight are special Ambassadors as we praise the fruitful collaboration between Cinecittà and the Academy Museum, in the temple of world cinema that is itself a symbol of the bond between our two countries having been designed by another Italian talent, architect Renzo Piano. Thank you again to the A c a d e m y M u s e u m a n d Cinecitta' for this special occasion to celebrate today - which marks also the begin- ning of the Italian heritage m o n t h : a u n i q u e I t a l i a n beauty in Los Angeles. " From Oct. 6 to Nov. 25, t h i s s e c t i o n o f f e r s a n o v e r v i e w o f m a n y i c o n i c scores from the Maestro's multifaceted career. First up is Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, followed by Once Upon a Time in the West, by the same director. Then Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers, Lina Wert- müller's The Lizards, Pier Paolo Pasolini's Theorem, Marco Bellocchio's Fists in the Pockets, Mauro Bologni- ni's That Splendid November, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and A Quiet Place in the Country, both by Elio Petri, Sacco and Vanzetti by Giuliano Montaldo, Two Mules For Sister Sara by Don Siegel, Novecento by Bernar- do Bertolucci, The Desert of the Tartars by Valerio Zurlini, Allonsanfàn by Paolo and Vit- torio Taviani, The Bird with the Crystal Feathers by Dario Argento and, to conclude, Once Upon a Time in Ameri- ca by Sergio Leone. Cinecittà is active with these initiatives to promote classic and contemporary cinema abroad. Last year, a s c r e e n i n g o f P i e r P a o l o Pasolini's work took place as part of the five-year agree- ment between Cinecittà and the Academy Museum. Simi- lar agreements have been m a d e w i t h o t h e r c i t i e s , including New York, where screenings are held at Lincoln Center and MoMa. "This experience is part of a cultural policy that Cinecit- t à h a s b e e n a d o p t i n g f o r some time, which is to bring abroad these films restored by us in collaboration with the Centro Sperimentale or the Cineteca di Bologna," Chiara Sbarigia, president of Cinecittà, explains. "These memory retrievals are impor- tant for bringing back the col- ors and sounds of films at risk of being forgotten." What makes Italian cine- ma so beloved international- ly? "Italy is renowned for its love of beauty and rich histo- ry of acting. From icons like Sofia Loren and Anna Mag- nani to the skilled craftsmen behind our impressive set and costume designs, we have a great tradition of artistic excellence. A prime example of this is Milena Canonero, who has won four Oscars for her exceptional work. Our cinema is well-rounded and diverse, reflecting the many talents and strengths of our culture." Also present at the event w a s M a r c o M o r r i c o n e , Ennio's eldest son. "It is very exciting to be here, first of all, because both my brother Gio- vanni and I are representing o u r f a t h e r . I t i s a g r e a t responsibility because he is such a powerful figure. Our Dad loved the United States, he loved this country's ability t o s e e f a r o n a c i n e m a t o - graphic and artistic level." Among his fondest memo- ries is a concert in Caracalla: " I t w a s a m a r v e l , w i t h s o many friends in the audience. I remember traveling the world with him. The best memories are so personal and so intimate that I will always keep them with me. I had a strange relationship with h i m , w e h a d t h i s k i n d o f empathy for each other, we also communicated nonver- b a l l y . I l o v e d h i s s i l e n c e d e e p l y , a n d w h e n h e w a s silent everything was fine. When he spoke, on the other hand, it was very dangerous, his words could be very tran- chantes," Marco Morricone tells us. In addition to his film suc- cess, his music is loved by m a n y p e o p l e a l l o v e r t h e world. What makes it so spe- cial to them? "He was revolu- tionary. A friend told me this very beautiful phrase yester- day, he said, 'I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing the first time I heard a piece by your father.' I can only say that every time I listen to his music, it moves me so much." SILVIA NITTOLI From left, Nicola Maccanico, CEO of Cinecittà, Consul General in LA Raffaella Valentini, Giuseppe Tornatore and President of Cinecittà Chiara Sbarigia (Photo courtesy of the Consolato Generale d'Italia, Los Angeles) Giuseppe Tornatore pays homage to Maestro Ennio Morricone TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS

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