Author: James Partridge

Italian Film Festival 2011 preview – Part Two

Posted by | Oct 14, 2011 |

We continue our Italian Film Festival 2011 preview with the rest of the films on show. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out Part One of our preview (for all the other films and the dates when the festival is playing near you). As always, let us know which films you go to see at the festival and which you’d recommend. Check out the ‘Calendar’ section of the Italian Film Festival site for all screening times. Italian Film Festival 2011 films (continued): The Right Thing (La Cosa Giusta): 2009, Marco Campogiani, 86min, Drama Comedy Two mismatched police officers – an idealistic rookie and a hard-bitten veteran – are assigned to tail a Moroccan man who has just been released from jail but is still suspected of having ties with al-Qaeda. Cast: Ennio Fantastichini, Paolo Briguglia, Ahmed Hafiene ______________________________ Bets & Wedding Dresses (Tris di Donne & Abiti Nuziali): 2009, Vincenzo Terracciano, 101min, Comedic Drama 2009 Venice Film festival: Official selection – Horizons ‘Bets & Wedding Dresses’ stars Sergio Castellitto (The Wedding Director) in the role of Franco Campanella, a former post office worker married to German-born Josephine (Martina Gedeck, The Baader Meinhof Complex). More than anything else Franco is a gambler and he frequents the dingiest corners of Naples to bet on horses and play poker, roulette and “zecchinetta”. Despite the trouble his debts have caused over the years and...

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Italian Film Festival 2011 preview – Part One

Posted by | Oct 14, 2011 |

Accidenti!, this one sneaked past me on the radar (oh, the joys of working full-time). Having launched in Auckland the other week, the 16th edition of the Italian Film Festival is still playing north of the Bombay Hills (for this weekend) and has several more stops around the country through October and November; with Wellington having opened this week. So if you love your Italian cinema, there are some damn fine films on show here. As you’d expect from an Italian cinematic extravaganza, there are plenty of stirring dramas and quirky comedies to see. This year there are also a couple of Italian classics to enjoy – the 1950’s Academy Award-winning The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di Biciclette) and the 2001 hit The Last Kiss (L’Ultimo Bacio). Aside from the two above, the films I am most keen to see are The Man Who Will Come (L’uomo Che Verrà), The Right Thing (La Cosa Giusta), Habemus Papam, Baaria (La Porta del Vento) and Raise You Head (Alza la Testa) – for which the trailers look fab. Are you a fan of Italian cinema? What’s your favourite Italian film of all time? Here’s where the Italian Film Festival 2011 is playing near you: Rialto Cinemas, Newmarket, Auckland, Sept 28 to Oct 16 Bridgeway Cinemas, Northcote Point, Auckland, Sept 29 to Oct 16 Paramount Cinemas, Wellington, Oct 12 to Oct 30 Hollywood Cinema,...

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