
LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
BY AMELIA GROOM
Mystery, political conspiracies, opera, mafia corruption, passionate romance and mouth-watering cuisine will all feature in the line-up for this year’s Lavazza Italian Film Festival ‘ bringing us both new and old cinematic gems from that culturally rich little corner of the world.
Now in its 9th year, the festival will open with Her Whole Life Ahead (pictured here) from director Paolo Virzi. Hailed by critics as one of the best Italian comedies of recent times, it’s a witty satire that takes a whimsical look at the lives, loves and struggles which beset the employees of a call centre.
It’s one of the program’s 25 diverse new films representing the best in contemporary Italian cinema. Other highlights include Paolo Sorrentino’s witty political expose Il Divo; Andrea Molaioli’s thriller The Girl by the Lake; Silvio Soldini’s family drama Days and Clouds, and Andrea Porporati’s revealing mafia portrait The Sweet and The Bitter.
The country’s biggest stars will display their talents alongside some of Italy’s most exciting newcomers. Look out for heartthrobs Luigi Lo Cascio, Silvio Muccino and Kim Rossi Stuart, who will be joined on-screen by Margherita Buy, Jasmine Trinca, Valeria Golino, Fanny Ardant, Valentina Cervi and the eternally alluring Monica Bellucci, who stars in Wild Blood, from Best of Youth director Marco Tullio Giordana.
The retrospective program will provide a fantastic snapshot of Italy’s finest celluloid moments throughout the last four decades, including Federico Fellini’s Amacord (1974); Vittorio De Sica’s beloved comedy Marriage Italian-Style (1964); Maurio Bolognini’s The Lovers (1961); Francesco Rosi’s Three Brothers (1981); Pietro Germi’s Serafino (1969) and E.B. Clucher’s cult spaghetti-western They Call Me Trinity (1970).
The Lavazza Italian Film Festival runs in Sydney from September 24 ‘ October 12 at Palace Norton Street and Academy Twin. For more information and bookings see italianfilmfestival.com.au