100+ YEARS OF THE GREAT ITALIAN MOVIEMAKERS
A look at the life and work of Commedia all'Italiana legend Ugo Tognazzi with direct links to eight of his films..
Paolo Sorrentino's THE HAND OF GOD to represent Italy in the Oscar race. Read about Fellini's influence on him.
Director Andrea De Sica carries on his grandfather's legacy while charting his own cinematic course.
Director Marco Tullio Giordana talks with us about the influence of American silent film actress Louise Brooks on Italian cinema and culture.
In an exclusive interview with our Rome correspondent, Sveva De Marinis, legendary writer Enrico Vanzina shares special memories and insight.
We spoke with actress Adriana Asti on the occasion of her 90th birthday! She shared her memories about working with icons like Pasolini and Visconti.
Women in Film
The Trailblazers
From the silent era to today, women of Italian origin have stepped behind the camera to tell their stories. We've partnered with Directed By Women to keep those stories alive by featuring women who gave and continue to give voice to the female experience through cinema.
Transforming Childhood Memories into a Filmmaking Career
Manuela Filomena was born in a small town in Irpinia called Ariano Irpino, located in the region of Campania. Her bringing up contributed to her choice of professions. “Like most Italian families, Sunday has always been a holiday to share with grandparents, aunts and uncles. Perhaps hearing their stories, sharing the work week, and exchanging ideas unknowingly fed my imagination and pleasure in storytelling,” she told me in a recent interview.
Stream Classic & Contemporary Italian Cinema
The Hand of God, 2021
The Last Days of Pompeii, 1913
The Last Days of Pompeii, 1913
Based on his own life growing up in Naples, Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God” recounts the heartbreak and growing pains that shaped the man and filmmaker he is today. The story of Fabietto plays out during the mid-1980s as Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona thrills locals as the star of the Napoli soccer team. When tragedy strikes, Fabietto realizes the profound impact of Maradona on his life.
The Last Days of Pompeii, 1913
The Last Days of Pompeii, 1913
The Last Days of Pompeii, 1913
Roman-born actress Fernanda Negri Pouget is a sight to behold (no pun intended) as a blind servant in Mario Caserini and Eleuterio Rodolfi's 1913 “The Last Days of Pompeii.” Her portrayal of Nidia should be part of the film school coursework for aspiring actresses. The film follows various inhabitants of the ill-fated ancient city in the days leading up to the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Laughing, 2018
Sunflower, 1970
Sunflower, 1970
Valerio Mastandrea's feature film directorial debut centers on Cesare Secondari (Renato Carpentieri), a retired factory worker who with two of his comrades is preparing to protest the unsafe working conditions that led to the death of a young man. Following the tender friendship between three senior citizens, one dealing with the repercussions of suffering a stroke, they fear they’ve become useless in old age and all the progress they made for the factory workers of their generation faded when they retired.
Sunflower, 1970
Sunflower, 1970
Sunflower, 1970
Directed by Vittorio De Sica, this heart-wrenching story brings together screen legends Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren for one of the most powerful performances of their onscreen love affair. At the start of the film, Antonio must leave his new bride to fight on the Russian front. After a near-death experience, Antonio has a brief episode of amnesia and marries the young Russian woman who saved his life. Though Antonio is listed as missing in action, Giovanna sets out to find him, leading to an explosive reunion.
On Exhibit
Museo Italiano Audiovisivo and Cinema
Italy’s 120 years of cinema has been made into an interactive museum
nestled in Rome’s iconic Cinecittà Studios.