L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 4 " I may be 90 years o l d , b u t i n m y heart, I am still that l i t t l e g i r l w h o dreamed of a better tomorrow. So tonight, let us all dream together." Sophia Loren radiated elegance as she greeted the audience at the Academy Museum's celebration of her 90th birthday. For her, thanking Hollywood means acknowl- edging the fundamental role the American industry has p l a y e d i n h e r c a r e e r — a c a r e e r t h a t t r a n s c e n d e d Italy's borders, making her a world-famous film star. "A heartfelt thank you to the Academy and Cinecittà for g i v i n g u s t h i s e v e n i n g , " Loren said, as the audience rose for a standing ovation. To honor her career, the C o n s u l a t e G e n e r a l o f I t a l y i n L o s A n g e l e s , Cinecittà, and the Acade- my Museum organized two evenings dedicated to the I t a l i a n a c t r e s s , f e a t u r i n g s c r e e n i n g s o f t w o o f h e r f i l m s : T w o W o m e n ( L a C i o c i a r a ) a n d T h e L i f e Ahead, the 2020 adapta- tion of the novel The Life Before Us, directed by her s o n , E d o a r d o P o n t i . T h e s e c a r e f u l l y c h o s e n m o v i e s f u l l y r e f l e c t t h e many dimensions of Loren's craft, from the strength and courage of a mother in Two Women to the tenderness of an older woman in The Life A h e a d . B o t h c e l e b r a t e L o r e n ' s t a l e n t , w h i l e reminding us of her deep dedication to her art, her roots, and her humanity. But there is more, because each screening was an invi- tation to the audience not only to appreciate Loren as an actress but to feel a con- n e c t i o n t o t h e w o r l d s h e r e p r e s e n t s — a w o r l d t h a t values resilience, family, and compassion while also embracing the life-modeling role of pain and sorrow in the creation of human expe- rience. Loren was joined for the occasion by her two sons, director Ponti and conduc- tor Carlo Ponti. "Let us enjoy the light of this sun and welcome a woman who, with her grace and elegance, h a s b e e n a p o w e r f u l a n d resonant voice in cinema," said Edoardo, introducing his mother on stage. The two-day lively cele- bration, however, was far more than a simple tribute to a legendary actress, it was a heartfelt nod to a woman who has become, thanks to her career and personality, a cherished symbol of Italian pride and cinematic bril- l i a n c e . L o r e n ' s p r e s e n c e brought to all a rare warmth and authenticity, qualities that defined her career as much as her iconic roles. D u r i n g t h e e v e n i n g , S o p h i a t o o k t h e s t a g e t o share thoughts and memo- ries with the audience. She began by reflecting on her childhood, a time when her l o v e f o r c i n e m a k e p t h e r alive and hopeful for a bet- ter tomorrow. "Being here is very special for me because Hollywood films taught me how to dream. When I was a young girl in Pozzuoli, long ago during World War II, my reality was filled with fear and hunger: the fear of a i r r a i d s i r e n s a n d t h e hunger that consumed us every moment of the day. But when I entered our little c i n e m a a n d t h e l i g h t s d i m m e d , r e a l i t y d i s a p - peared. My eyes and heart were captured by the magic of Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, and Fred Astaire. That little silver screen was my window into a fairytale w o r l d w h e r e f e a r a n d hunger vanished. Cinema b e c a m e m y t h e r a p y . I t b e c a m e m y h o m e . T h a t ' s w h y b e i n g h e r e t o n i g h t m a k e s m e f e e l t r u l y a t home," Loren said. " S o p h i a L o r e n h a s r e t u r n e d t o L o s A n g e l e s , and it has been an honor to welcome her to the Acade- my Museum alongside the Cinecittà delegation to cele- brate her 90th birthday — Consul General Raffael- la Valentini said. "Sophia is an icon of Italian cinema, an ambassador of our coun- try's elegance and talent, who inspired and continues to inspire Hollywood," Con- sul Valentini concluded. B o r n S o f i a C o s t a n z a Brigida Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934, Loren a p p e a r e d i n n e a r l y 1 0 0 films over seven decades. She began her career as an extra at Cinecittà, catching the attention of future hus- b a n d C a r l o P o n t i , w h o cast her in her breakout role i n T h e G o l d o f Naples (1954). Together, t h e y c o l l a b o r a t e d o n 3 4 films, often alongside the charismatic Marcello Mas- t r o i a n n i a n d u n d e r t h e direction of Vittorio De Sica. Loren brought a distinctive blend of earthy charm and undeniable magnetism to r o l e s t h a t r a n g e d f r o m intense to lighthearted. S o p h i a L o r e n a t 9 0 : H o l l y w o o d h o n o r s Italy's beloved diva SILVIA NITTOLI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 Sophia Loren, the last diva of cinema's golden age, surrounded by photographers (Photo: Featureflash/Dreamstime)

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