L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN COMMUNITY M any people look for- ward to the fall months of September, October, and November. With them come cool breezes and milder temper- atures. But the San Francisco Bay Area has a far more reward- ing and entertaining cultural experience that heralds the arrival of fall. That experience would be the Italian Film Festival of Marin County. And a festival it is in every sense of the word. L'Italo-Americano was fortu- nate to meet and speak with the man responsible for what has become a highlight of San Francisco Bay Area culture, fes- tival director Commendatore Lido Cantarutti. Originally an informal, one- time only presentation of Italian movies in a college lecture hall, the Italian Film Festival of Marin County has grown over its 41 years into a perennial favorite. When asked why he started the festival, Cantarutti replied, "When I was able to see some of the great classic films that had come out of Italy I thought, 'Oh my goodness, these are really great films.' I thought how won- derful it would have been to share this with other people, by making more of these films available to Bay Area audiences. "My wife and I discovered 'foreign cinema' in San Francisco in the late 1970s and became enamored of it. I thought how much pleasure it would be to be able to present this world- class cinema to American audi- ences. One of the first I saw at the Surf Theater in San Francisco that knocked me out was L'Albero degli Zoccoli (The Tree of Wooden Clogs) by a film director that is still alive, Ermanno Olmi. It's almost a documentary about five share- cropping families and how they worked and lived together to eke out a living. When I saw it I thought 'Holy smokes! That's a really great story, beautifully told, great music, good acting with non-traditional actors.' This film still remains one of my favorites." What makes this beloved fes- tival so enduring? Cantarutti shares his thoughts by saying, "The festival is not just watching a flat movie on a screen. It's an emotional experience. It's a fes- tival of cultural immersion. This is not just going to a movie. We could walk a few blocks to a movie theater right now and just watch a movie. That is not what I do. I personally welcome peo- ple to the festival. We have peo- ple that come year after year. We have food provided by nearby restaurants. It's entertaining Italian style. When you leave after seeing these films you don't forget them. You take them with you." At least once a year, the Commendatore travels to Italy, especially to Rome and Milan. He explains that obtaining films for the festival is best accom- plished in person. "In Italy, it is very important to have a good connection with CATHERINE ACCARDI Commendatore Lido Cantarutti - Father of the Marin Italian Film Festival the people you are dealing with. They need to know and trust you. Rapport in Italy is every- thing. It is gold. If you don't have it you have nothing." And so, in the ongoing tradi- tion that now spans 41 years, Lido Cantarutti has once again travelled to Italy and returned with eight feature films for the 2017 festival, which takes place from September 23 to November 4 at the Marin Center Showcase Theatre in San Rafael. The films and program dates are as fol- lows: • September 23 (Opening Night): Daddy's Angels (Belli di Papà) Comedy about a father's elab- orate plan to teach his spoiled adult children a practical lesson about responsibility. • September 24: The Last Will Be Last (Gli Ultimi Saranno Ultimi) Comedy/drama with a full array of emotions associated with love, a new family and job loss. • September 30: An Almost Perfect Town (Un Paese quasi Perfetto) In this comedy, a small south- ern town tries to come up with creative ideas to enable it to sur- vive. • October 1: On the Trail of My Father (La Pelle dell'Orso) Dramatic story of the evolv- ing relationship between a father and son set against the backdrop of the remoteness and immensity of nature. • October 7: Funne - Sea Dreaming Girls (Funne - le Ragazze che Sognavano il Mare) Documentary and charming modern fable featuring twelve irresistible seventy and eighty year-old women who seek to realize their dream of seeing the sea for the first time in their lives. • October 14: A Second Chance (Torno Indietro e Cambio Vita) An inventive and delightful flight of fancy as two good friends are plunged into the past, and then back to the present. • October 28: Forever Young (Per Sempre Giovani) A comedy that highlights how, in our world and times, it is important to be young. This story is about a group of forever- young friends in present day Italy. • November 4 (Closing Night): At War for Love (In Guerra per Amore) Following the critical and box office success of The Mafia Kills Only in the Summer, the director (known as PIF) offers this love story of Arturo's dream to marry Flora, set against the backdrop of war-torn Sicily. All these films are in Italian/original language with subtitles in English. All films are suggested for mature audiences. For detailed information and to pur- chase tickets (which go on sale August 14), please visit the Marin Italian Film Festival web- site at https://www.italianfilm. com. When speaking with the Commendatore, one cannot help but notice his undeniable passion for the Italian culture. "I have had the advantage of growing up between three great cultures; American, Italian, and Friulian!" And now we have had the unde- niable pleasure of knowing Lido Cantarutti. In a future issue of L'Italo- Americano, we will explore more about the Father of the Italian Film Festival. Lido Cantarutti, Director of the Italian Film Festival of Marin County 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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