L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN COMMUNITY " Call this a comedy-drama in which the comedy is only a s urface s ymptom." This sentence, found on a copy of the New York Times from 1963, is the perfect explanation of what Dino Risi represented (and still represents) for the Italian cinema worldwide. Not only was Risi one of the most talented Italian movie-makers, but also worked with some of the finest actors, including Sophia Loren, Vittorio Gassman, and Alberto Sordi. Hence, he is one of the origina- tors of the " comedy Italian style", the popular Commedia all'Italiana. Some of Risi's movies are at the core of Cinema Italia, that comes back to the Cas tro Theatre in San Francisco on April 22nd, for a day full of his- tory, stories, and laugh, Italian style. A melia A ntonucci, the Program Director, celebrates the fifth edition together with the Italian Cultural Institute and Istituto Luce Cinecittà. "I expect some surprises. Life, after all, is not all it' s made out to be", Director Risi once said. These words seem to best represent this 2017 edition. Amelia, here we are again, w ith th e n ew ed ition of Cinema Italia. First of all, the festival moves from Fall to Spring and has now two editions per year and a com- pletely new approach. We start- ed by focusing only on authors, moving then to actors and actresses. Now we feature both, w hich means directors that worked with well known, inter- national actors. For this edition, we have the pleasure to watch Vittorio Gassman, who became famous thanks to his early movies with Dino Risi. Cinema Italia has become a n ot-to-mis s even t for th e Italian-American community. I am very proud of this fifth edition and all the achievements throughout the years. Cinema Italia has been presenting classic movie programs since 2013 with Pierpaolo Pasolini; followed by Bernardo Bertolucci, Vittorio De Sica, and Anna Magnani. We are happy to have the support of the Italian Cons ul G eneral, Lorenzo Ortona. It is amazing to hear that w e have become a steady event for movie viewers in San Francisco. This is an overw helming joy for both myself and the team. Back to Dino Risi, before he became a director, he was a doc- tor devoted to psychiatry. The interest for such discipline well explains his passion for the neo- realist style, that turned to be the focus of his second career. Risi tried and succeeded at breaking up some Italian stereotypes. From the charlatan to the cheat- ing hus band or the immoral father, the funny characters of the commedia come together with tragic endings, revealing depth and moral rigor behind the laughs. Tell us about the choice of the movies. I usually choose four films for each edition. As for Dino Risi, "Il mattatore" is a trade movie that gave V ittorio Gassman his name for a lifetime. He had seen Gassman at the the- atre and also playing a role in a dramatic movie. He used to be the evil man, or the thief. Risi w as the firs t to feel that Gassman had a comic potential. H e made of G as s man his favorite interpreter, a kind of "alter ego", the symbol of his histrionic, exhibitionist cinema. He has dignified his image to the SERENA PERFETTO Cinema Italia Brings Dino Risi and its Commedia all'Italiana to San Francisco public, making him more human and pleasant: a middle class little man, yet so fascinating. Which ones do you like the most? One of my favorite movies is Profumo di donna. That movie inspired also Al Pacino, who ended up doing a remake. However, it never reached the powerful and moving portrait of the blind captain. I also love Il sorpasso: it will be amazing to have a pristine restored copy by Cineteca Nazionale. Big sur- pris e, w e w ill als o have the famous Aurelia - that Gassman and a young J ean-Louis Trintignant rode through the Tuscan roads - on display in front of the Castro Theatre. We w ill clos e the night w ith "I mostri", to experience a great moment of the Italian cinema that will surely bring to tears and make laugh in a fast and breath- less rhythm, that is the unique Risi's trend. Finally, the heritage of the Commedia all'Italiana... As many probably know, the expression can be found in the Treccani dictionary with a defin- ition by Masolino d'Amico. As the movie critic stated, Dino Risi is " Il padre della Commedia all'Italiana". His movies made history because they portray funny, sad, and - often - hilarious stereotypes of the "Italian homo novus" for contemporary audi- ence and young generations. Risi was able to show the economic boom and the way Italians were enjoying their life, following the mis ery and the tragedy of a destructive war: dancing, riding expens ive cars , going to the beach, and seducing women. Risi did it by producing 84 movies and by working until the last days of his long life. He is a master of irony and rhythm. D ino Ris i pas s ed aw ay in 2008, yet the memory of his works is strong. "What we do will never be enough when it comes to understand the impact of the Commedia all'Italiana on the '50s and the '60s in Italy as well as on the perception that Italians get w hen abroad", Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Paolo Barlera, pointed out. "Dino Risi has probably been the most representative icon of the Commedia all'Italiana, while his stories and characters are the bes t at depicting the Prima Repubblica and its unique path." F or s chedule and tickets , check Cinema Italia w ebs ite http://www.cinemaitaliasf.com/ Amelia Antonucci during the 2016 edition of Cinema Italia Italian Community Services provid Bay Area Italian-American seniors and famili with trusted rourc to help them live healthy, independent and productive liv. We are commied to honoring and prerving the Italian language and culture, with an emphasis on the strength and suort that com om family, community, education and goodwill. Casa Coloniale John F. Fugazi 678 Green Street San Francisco, CA 94133 415 •362 •6423 www.italiancs.com . . • Translation for seniors /new immigrants • Community service coordination • Information and referrals

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