L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 4 sense of place, it remains one of the things people of Italy all around the world are most proud of: delicious and wholesome, but also decadent and rich, its variety has made it the symbol of all that's possible in the kitchen. Ital- ians of all eras found in cooking not only a way to fill their stom- achs, but also - and possibly even more importantly - an incredibly versatile manner to express them- selves and their bond to the moth- erland. All regions and, within them, each town and household, developed special recipes, con- coctions and ideas that became a real symbol of their heritage and their surroundings; for those Ital- ians who grew up away from the peninsula, food always represent- ed one of the strongest ties with their identity, an essential part of what "being Italian" meant. This is because food in Italy is much more than, well, food; it is, as said, a straight link to one's ori- gins, a dive into tradition and, cru- cially, a way to show and assert emotional bonds and relation- ships. To Italians, cooking is an act of love: love for Italy and for "il buon vivere," but especially love for the people they cook for. Every gesture in the kitchen, every flavor in the plate, is a small act of care and kindness for all those sitting around the table. Quintessential is, in this sense, the figure of our grandmothers: think- ing about them often grants moments of immense joy, if somehow filled with a swipe of sadness if they happen to no longer be with us, tied to their loving smile, the faint scent of lavender of their skin and, of course, the flavors of their cook- ing. Cooking is also an act of cre- ativity and, thanks to this, Italian cuisine enters often the exclusive world of art. Food becomes art on the plate and in the mouth, but it is so even before coming into being, when it's conceived and invented, putting together special ingredients, or making the best of the little available in our ances- tors' larders, in times when hav- ing a nutritious meal on the table twice a day wasn't as obvious an occurrence as it is now. Cinema has always had a simi- lar role in the diffusion of Italian culture around the world. It may be because we have Cinecittà, where so many of those amazing 1950s historical movies were made, or thanks to our beautiful iconic actresses, like Sophia Loren or Gina Lollobrigida, and our genial directors like Federico Fellini and Vittorio de Sica, all the way to the comic yet poetic verve of Roberto Benigni and the dream-like imagery of Paolo Sor- rentino. Through the Seventh Art, Italy found a way to represent itself in all its beauty and idiosyn- crasies, and to portray its often harsh reality without ever forget- ting there is always something good to be found in the country. It may be a corner of Rome, the smile of Silvana Mangano or the spirited one liners of Alberto Sordi: you're always remem- bered, when watching an Italian movie, that Italy may be difficult, but there isn't a place quite like it. More prosaically, but just as relevantly, we shouldn't forget the role Italian actors and directors had in the development of cinema around the world; we're not talk- ing about technologies and big bucks investments, but rather about aesthetics and concepts, that unique mix of poetics and images largely associated to Italian cine- matography. November wants to celebrate these important realities of Italian culture around the world with two dedicated events: the Cinema Ital- ian Style 2017, organized by Isti- tuto Luce Cinecittà and American Cinematheque, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency and the IIC, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, which will take place in Los Angeles from the 16 th to the 21 st of November, and the Setti- mana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo, organized around the world with the support of Italian Embassies and Consulates from the 13 th to the 19 th of November. This year, Cinema Italian Style is dedicated to the creativity and work of Michelangelo Antonioni, great representative of contempo- rary Italian cinema. Locations of the event, organized by Istituto Luce and American Cinemateque in collaboration with Italian Trade Agency and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, will be the Egyptian Theater and the Aero Theater in Los Angeles. The Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo celebrates its second edition and this year is dedicated to the "extraordinary Italian taste." Central to the event are the ideas of quality, sustain- ability, culture, identity, territory and biodiversity, with a special accent placed on pairing good food and wines, as well as bring- ing recognition to authentic and traditional culinary realities of the Bel Paese, also through the appre- ciation of culinary itineraries and the Mediterranean diet. A specific interest will also be given to the patrimony of the areas hit by the 2016 earthquake, as well as to the support of the candidatures of the Neapolitan art of pizza making and of the Valdobbiene Valley to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Ideally, and visually, bringing it all together is the photography exhibition Cinema e Cibo, held at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Los Angeles, in conjunction with Cinema Italian Style 2017 and the Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo. Here, the social and cultural changes that invested Italy through the 20 th century are revisited through the lenses of the cinematic art and on the faces of Italy's most famous actors and actresses. As we should celebrate our heritage all year round, it's nice to see interest in Italy and its culture is no longer limited to the month of October. There's plenty to do and see, in this month of Novem- ber, for all Italians and Italophiles around the US, too. An Italian November made of cinema and good food NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Continued from page 1 The month of november celebrates Italian cuisine, a country excellence, all around the world

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