Italian life captured on screen

The Italian language is synonymous with poetry.

Words and sentences flow seamlessly, transforming into a quasi musical score.

This distinct poetic and musical quality has been successfully translated and transferred on screen by a number of Italian directors – from Federico Fellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini to the more recent Giuseppe Tornatore or Nanni Moretti.

Italian cinema has also acquired increasing appeal due to its poignant representation of Mediterranean life and culture and its socio-political scenarios.

All those enamoured with the Italian language and way of life are in for a treat… as a film festival of new Italian cinema opens in Malta today.

Forming part of the international festival So Close So Far: Southeastern Sicily and Malta, the event is being held in the country for the ninth consecutive year.

The public will have the opportunity to meet some of the directors and actors of the films being shown.

These include film critic and journalist Marco Spagnoli and Italian TV director Sergio Colabona, who is also director of the Centro Mediterraneo delle Arti.

Other directors whose works are being represented include: Roberta Torre, Mario Martone, Giorgia Cecere, Pasquale Scimeca, Pupi Avati and Saverio Costanzo.

Mr Spagnoli’s new documentary, Hollywood Invasion, is being screened tomorrow at the Italian Cultural Institute at 6 p.m.

The festival highlight, Passannante, will be screened on Wed-nesday, at the University of Malta under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts in the Erin Serracino Inglott Lecture Theatre at 6.30 p.m.

The story is about a young Italian chef whose failed attempt to murder the king of Italy results in a life sentence. Years later, three men go on a painstaking mission to bring his name and cause to justice.

This film is being presented to the public free of charge. It will be introduced by the director, Sergio Colabona, actor Ulderico Pesce and film critic Marco Spagnoli. A discussion will follow the screening.

On Thursday, the films I baci mai dati, Noi credevamo and Il primo incarico will be shown at St James Cavalier at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively. Similarly on Sunday, Malavoglia, Una sconfinata giovinezza and La solitudine dei numeri primi will also be screened at St James Cavalier at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively.

The film festival is a collaborative initiative between the Italian Cultural Institute, the University of Malta, the Italian Embassy in Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Italian Ministries of Cultural Heritage and Foreign Affairs and the Associazione Sicilia a Malta.

• More information may be obtained online at www.um.edu.mt or from the Italian Cultural Institute by phone on 2124 1944.