L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY G ina Lollobrigida came to Los Angeles to attend the cere- mony for the naming after her of a star on the famous Walk of Fame, a trib- ute Hollywood chose to dedicate to one of the greatest Italian divas of cinema. And it is precisely on this occasion that the Italian actress, cinema icon in the 50s and 60s, was also awarded by the Italian community of Los Ange- les with the IIC Los Angeles Creativity Award, promoted by Tiziana Rocca's Agnus Dei and in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute. 90 years celebrated last July, Gina Lollobrigida's star is the 2.628th and the 14 th dedicated to an Italian. In America, Lollobrigi- da became an icon thanks to her debut film, Beat the Devil by John Huston (1953). With an extraordinary filmography that includes over 60 internationally acclaimed titles, she won numer- ous awards during her long career, including a Golden Globe for the movie Come September, seven David di Donatello and two Silver Ribbons. Famous is also her role in the movie Bread, Love and Dreams by Luigi Comencini. We met her in Westwood just before the award ceremony, where she arrived, beautiful as always, dressed in red. Gina, today you received an incredible welcome. How is it to be back in Hollywood? It was very emotional. How many years have come by? I did- n't make the maths but since 1954... it's been a while. How do you like to be defined? Oh my God, I would say an artist. So I won't have to say pho- tographer, sculptor, designer, and actress as well. I didn't have time to do everything, so I chose the most important ones. I chose cin- ema because it gives you immedi- ate popularity, from one day to another.The others, like photogra- phy and sculpture, are more diffi- cult to pursue. Is there something that you'd have liked to do that you haven't? Singing. I had a beautiful voice and then I lost it along the way, as you must keep singing to keep your voice. It's time for women to have their own voice, not only regarding the harassment movement. What do you think about it? It was about time. Making progress for women is difficult, men take so much space, we must have equality, but I don't know when we will get there. SILVIA NITTOLI Gina Lollobrigida honored with a star on the Walk of Fame sul in Los Angeles Antonio Verde, who recalled with us his first meeting with Gina Lollob- rigida: "I met her in the 90s when I was in Moscow. I met her and Alberto Sordi for a festival, we chatted about what the world of cinema meant at the time, about the image of Italy in Russia, which was extremely positive. It was nice to see her again after almost twenty years,in a celebra- tory moment for her long career. She is an iconic force that repre- sents positive values. Her recog- nition is a recognition to Italy in general, to Italians in Italy and Italians abroad, for the vitality of our cinema and for Italy's ability to represent a positive model that is not just about beauty, but also about skills and talent, as in the case of Lollobrigida and Belluc- ci. Gina Lollobrigida, a beautiful woman, is a complete artist who ventured not only in acting with great results, but also in sculp- ture, photography and journal- ism. Bellucci started as a model, who then made an important leap in the movie industry,demonstrat- ing a versatility that goes far beyond her mere beauty. And all this is almost a metaphor of Italy which is a beautiful country that can also offer quality and con- tent." Gina Lollobrigida unveiled her star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Ph Credit: Stefania Rosini L to R: Filming On Italy Director Tiziana Rocca, IIC Los Angeles Director Valeria Rumori, Gina Lol- lobrigida and Consul General Antonio Verde. Ph Credit: Stefania Rosini Gina Lollobrigida as she receives star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Ph Credit: Stefania Rosini Film Critic Claudio Masenza and Filming On Italy Director Tiziana Rocca with Gina Lollobrigida. Ph Credit: Stefania Rosini Is it something going to change, now, thanks to the anti harassment movement? I don't know, I think there are other important issues to be addressed first. What do you recall of your Hollywood movie Come Sep- tember? I remember Rock Hudson, he was such a sweet person, an incredible actor. The movie was fun, a very nice comedy. I made other two movies with him. You'd like to write a book now, right? I am planning to write five actually, but I am not sure I will be given the time I need! Everybody was in love with you. Has ever a man turned you down? A man who turned me down? I have no memory of that! In addition to Gina Lollobrigi- da and to the event dedicated to Monica Bellucci, for three days the Filming on Italy festival brought to the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles many guests such as Rosario Dawson, Abrima Erwiah, Lola Karimova, Paz Vega, Vincent Spano and Danny Huston. The festival also presented the American premieres of On the Milky Road by Emir Kusturica and Smetto Quando Voglio - Ad Honorem, by Sydney Sibilia. Filming On Italy is also a festival promoting Italy as a film set, and as a bridge between Italian and American culture. We spoke with the director of Agnus Dei, Tiziana Rocca, about this third edition of the festival. At her side during the event, its artistic director, Claudio Masen- za. "This year is dedicated to women, Monica Bellucci has been a friend of mine for years and Gina Lollobrigida is an inter- national diva. It was very hard to bring her to Los Angeles for this occasion because, as she says, she's three times thirty.Today a fan called the Walk of Fame say- ing that he would pay any money to take a selfie with her and the Academy called me to let me know this." Social issues are a topic Tiziana Rocca particularly cares about and that she has always promoted through all her events. For this reason Filming On Italy had Lola Karimova, ambassador of Uzbekistan to UNESCO, pre- senting The Droplet, an impor- tant project that highlights the urgency of global warming, and the issues of lack and conserva- tion of water. Lola Karimova will be awarded the Social and Jus- tice Filming On Italy Award, along with actress Rosario Daw- son and fashion expert Abrima Erwiah. Indeed, Tiziana Rocca also supports Studio 189, a social enterprise created in 2011 by Rosario Dawson with Abrima Erwiah, who uses fashion as an agent of social change, creating work and empowerment opportu- nities for women. In addition to an e-commerce website, Studio 189 created a fashion collection called Fashion Rising Collection, curated by Dawson and launched in 2013 in support of the One Billion Rising, the largest mass action to end violence against women. Inspired by these ideals, the Fashion Rising Collection represents the unique collabora- tion among artists, designers and craftsmen to fight violence against women using the creation of a more sustainable fashion. The director of the Italian Cul- tural Institute Valeria Rumori also supported the event. "Los Angeles is iconic for cinema, a field that we as an Institute pro- mote along with art, architecture and literature. Filming on Italy is one of the new initiatives pro- moting Italy as a film set, as well as its beautiful territory. Italy is always well received as a tourist destination, it's a growing tar- get". Also at the event, Italian Con-

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