L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 I n 2001, My Voyage to Italy, a 1999 documen- tary directed by Martin Scorsese about Italian cinema, was presented o u t o f c o m p e t i t i o n a t t h e Cannes Film Festival. The doc- umentary, which lasts over four hours, features Scorsese's deep and thoughtful critique alongside carefully selected clips from 24 of Italy's greatest f i l m m a k e r s . T h e s e i n c l u d e iconic directors such as Luchi- no Visconti, Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, and Roberto Rossellini. The work is a heartfelt tribute to the Italian cine- ma Scorsese has loved since his childhood, a genre that has always stirred in him what he calls a "visceral connection." This connection, in turn, profoundly shaped his own career as a filmmaker. The documentary spans from the early days of Cabiria (1914, directed by Giovanni Pastrone) to Fellini's 8 ½ (1963), exploring the cultural and social transformations of the 1940s and 1950s. It captures the essence of post-war Italy and its changing society, as seen through the lenses of directors who portrayed an era on the silver screen. "Has anyone ever thought to ask Martin Scorsese how he spends his free time?" began Giuseppe Tornatore, Academy I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n fi l m m a k e r s a n d t h e i r connection to Italian culture From the Editor Award-winning filmmaker, during his tribute speech at a gala in Turin. The event honored Scorsese for his multifac- eted role in the world of cinema: a director, documentarian, screenwriter, producer, actor, film historian, film conserva- tion advocate, movie poster collector, and, perhaps most fit- tingly, "an indefatigable movie-watcher." Scorsese was awarded the prestigious Stella della Mole prize, which pays homage to his monumental contributions to cinema. Torna- tore continued, "No one in the history of cinema has watched as many films as Scorsese or possesses such deep knowledge of cinema from its creation by the Lumière brothers to today. His expertise is vast and consistently cultivated. For Martin, we are the sum of what we've watched. And, of course, his immense knowledge isn't just an end in itself; it is the dri- ving force behind his filmmaking — it is his filmmaking." Beyond his unparalleled expertise in the art of cinema, Scorsese's "Italian-American" viewpoint adds a unique layer to his identity. It's particularly poignant that, during this Italian Heritage Month, Scorsese returned to his ancestral homeland, Sicily, a journey he described as a "sentimental return to the land of his roots." He believes this trip will prove fruitful, sparking fresh ideas for upcoming projects. It marks his fourth visit to Sicily (though his trips to Italy have been far more frequent), underscoring the deep bond he feels with the land his grandparents left behind. This con- nection, nurtured in the heart of New York's Little Italy, had a profound impact on Scorsese's personal and professional development, as he absorbed and cherished the Italian- American culture that surrounded him. Meanwhile, in Rome during the same week, another icon- ic Italian-American filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola, arrived to take part in the city's Film Festival. Coppola was honored with the symbolic key to the historic Cinecittà Stu- dios, a place that has produced countless masterpieces of the seventh art. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of a street named in his honor, Viale Francis Ford Coppola. "As a young man, I dreamed of studying at the Centro Sperimen- tale di Cinematografia — at the time, Hollywood was in Rome, and now, my dream has finally come true," said the six-time Academy Award winner, whose career-defining films include Apocalypse Now and The Godfather trilogy. He spoke with nostalgia about the giants of cinema who shaped his own vision, noting that "Roberto Rossellini was a great mentor, but even before him, I drew inspiration from Francesca Bertini," a silent film diva whose commanding presence on screen left a lasting impression. Coppola's deep Italian roots have undeniably influenced his artistic vision, much like Scorsese's. The impact of this heritage is also evident in Coppola's daughter, Sofia Coppola. At the Venice Film Festival, where her latest film Priscilla was shown, Sofia expressed her connection to Italy, saying, "I'm ashamed I don't speak Italian, but I'm incredibly proud of my heritage. I love Italy — we were raised with Italian val- ues. It was always important to my father, who made sure we spent extended periods in Italy, and he even owns a resort in Bernalda, Basilicata, where I got married." Francis Ford Coppola, clearly moved by his return to Italy, added, "I'm deeply touched to be back in the homeland of my ancestors, originally from Lucania. One of my fondest memories is when Nino Rota played the Godfather theme for me in an a i r p o r t . I ' m a l s o p r o f o u n d l y m o v e d w h e n I t h i n k o f Francesco Rosi, Mario Monicelli, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Lina Wertmüller. And," added the 85-year-old filmmak- er, who revealed he is working on a new film in Italy, "Italian actors are simply fantastic." Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 2024 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano PO Box 6528 Altadena, CA 91003

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