L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 3 Sophia Loren: an Italian goddess in the Olympus of cinema for over 60 years Vittorio De Sica and starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. The decision to write her memoir didn't come easily since, despite the interna- tional popularity and innate charm that always accompanied her, Sophia Loren's personal life was marked by hardship and she had to fight hard to find happi- ness. While she seemed to easily achieve her career goals, having a legitimate family was for her the greatest challenge. Sophia Loren was born in Pozzuoli, a small town near Naples, from a young and unwed mother, Romilda. Her last name was Scicolone, but she changed it in the classier and more inter- national Loren. During the War, they lived in her grandparents' overcrowded home, starving and fearing the bombing. When Romilda noticed that her daugh- ter had grown into a rare beauty, she entered her in contests and auditions. Sophia moved to Rome, where she started working as a model and actress, supporting her mother and little sister with her earnings. A dazzling teenag- er, she was noticed by film pro- Continued from page 1 The ancient Roman city of Pompeii has received a lot of coverage recently. From exhibits to a song by the band Bastille, Pompeii has surely been a popular topic of discus- sion. The city will now present an opera festival entitled the "Pompeii Festival" on Thursday, September 18 th and Saturday, September 20 th showcasing two famous operas on the stage of the newly revamped theater. These will include La Bohemeby Giacomo Puccini and Carmen by Georges Bizet. In an effort to increase tourism, while simulta- neously bringing modern art and music here, this festival will easily attract audiences. The Italian Culture Ministry can take the credit for this won- derful idea. Dario Franceschini, the Culture Minister, is paving the way for the spotlight to shine on the region of Campania. Pompeii has always been recognized for the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. After the volcano erup- tion, the entire city was con- sumed with ash, which in turn preserved it after all of this time. The city has held count- less tours showing a re-enact- ment of the eruption. The out- standing sound and light shows called Pompeii Moons begin in May and continue to run all the way through October. In 1972, the band Pink Floyd performed in the ancient city. Franceschini told the publication ANSA that this concert was one of the ele- ments that helped create the idea for this upcoming festival. The Pompeii Festival brings a traditional art form to a city with fascinating archaeological history. Both opera and this city truly represent Italian culture. Pompeii, just like opera, is timeless and both can be enjoyed for centuries to come. The Italian Culture Ministry has already devoted itself to keeping the remains of Pompeii secure by spending over 100 million euros on the Great Pompeii Project. This project was part of an endeavor to fix up the ancient city. Although this festival is about two amaz- ing operas, it will also generate wonder and curiosity in these Roman ruins. The Pompeii Festival will delight crowds of people who have the opportuni- ty to attend this week. STEphANIE FRuSTAcI Opera Festival in Pompeii ducer Carlo Ponti, who fell in love with her. They became lovers, but Ponti was 22-year older than her and married with children in times when divorce was illegal in Italy. Despite their fame, for over a decade their being together was hindered and condemned by the Church of Rome and the Italian Law. Loren and Ponti finally got mar- ried in France in 1966, and soon after they moved to Geneva in Switzerland, where she still lives after her husband's death in 2007. They had two sons: Carlo Jr., conductor of the LA Virtuosi Orchestra, and filmmaker Edoardo. Carlo Ponti wasn't only Sophia's partner in life but also her manager. Under his guide, in 1954 she began a fruitful collab- oration with director Vittorio De Sica in films like The Gold of Naples, and eventually landed in Hollywood, learning English very quickly with great determi- nation. Among others, she per- formed in The Pride and Passion, featuring Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant, and in the heart- breaking Two Women. Produced by Carlo Ponti and directed by Vittorio De Sica, Two Women consecrated Sophia Loren as a talented movie star by earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1962. She was also the first artist to win the Oscar for a foreign-language perfor- mance. Sophia Loren's contribution to world's cinema and to the Italian culture was acknowl- edged by several prizes and cele- brated in festivals and events worldwide. Most recently, a spe- cial tribute was paid to her at the annual Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, with the participation of Whoopi Goldberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Redford. More public appearances of the Italian screen goddess in the U.S. are expected in the next few months. Happy birthday, Sophia! Sophia Loren The ancient Roman theatre in Pompeii will be the venue for the new Pompeii Festival

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