Cinema Pills

Montedoro – The movie set on the “ghosts town”

Montedoro is based on the true story of its lead actress, Pia Marie Ann. A middle-aged American woman who unexpectedly discovers her true origins only after the death of her parents. Deeply shaken, and in the grip of a real identity crisis, she decides to travel hoping to embrace her natural mother never known. She arrives in a small and remote village in southern Italy, Montedoro, where she is surprised by an apocalyptic scenario. The village, lying on a majestic hill, is completely abandoned and it seems there is no one left.

The central character and true protagonist of the movie is the ghost town of Craco, an Italian town in the province of Matera. Abandoned by its inhabitants in 1963 following a large-scale landslide by what was thought to be faulty pipe work.

Because it is dominated by the castle, Craco is an extraordinary place and a choice location for many filmmakers, including Rosi and Mel Gibson. The new center, Craco Peschiera, was built downstream. However, people of Craco, a ‘resilient community’, have moved to the other side of the mountain: a dozen houses gathered under the name of Craco. As a result, in 2007, the descendants of the emigrants of Craco formed the “Craco Society”. A non-profit organization, in the United States, which preserves the culture, traditions, and history of the place. Eventually, in 2010, Craco was included in the watch list of the World Monuments Fund.

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Italian culture & Cinema

Cinecittà: eternal and magical heritage of Italian cinema

Cinecittà is a large film studio complex located in Rome, Italy. It was founded in 1937 by the fascist government of Benito Mussolini. Mainly to establish a center of Italian cinema and promoting the country’s cultural and political values. Cinecittà is not only a place of film production. It is also a symbol of the Italian film industry and of all Italian culture.

In its early years, Cinecittà produced a series of propaganda films, including historical epics such as “Scipio l’Africano” and “Luciano Serra, Pilota,”. Film celebrating the greatness of the Roman Empire and Italian fascism. However, in the 50s and 60s, Cinecittà saw the growth of a new generation of directors. Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica, used the studio to create some of the most acclaimed films in the history of Italian cinema. Renowned title as “La dolce vita,” “Roma città aperta” and “Ladri di biciclette.”

In the 70s and 80s, Cinecittà declined due to competition from foreign film studios and the decrease government funding. However, in the 1990s, the studio saw a revival, with the launch of new projects such as “Ben Hur” and “Gangs of New York.” Today, Cinecittà is one of the largest film studios in Europe, with 19 production halls and a range of production support services. The studio has also been the set of many successful international productions, such as “The Great Beauty,” “Gladiator” and “Mission: Impossible III.”

Today, Cinecittà is a complex of film studios, theaters and exhibition spaces offering a wide range of services to audiovisual productions. Among Cinecittà’s main activities are the production and rental of technical equipment for filming. Moreover, the creation of sets and scenery, makeup and costume design, and audio and video post-production.

Cinecittà has been transformed into a cultural hub open to the public, with an extensive program of events. They curate exhibitions, and activities ranging from music and theater to fashion and design. Places for visitors include the Cinecittà Museum, telling the story of Italian and international cinema, and Cinecittà World, a theme park entirely dedicated to cinema.

Additionally, Cinecittà is a training ground for the next generation of filmmakers. Holding a famous film school and a program of internships for young aspiring directors, screenwriters, actors, and film technicians.

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Italian culture & Cinema

Basilicata, land of cinema

The region Basilicata, located in southern Italy, has a rich and fascinating film history. This region has provided striking locations for many Italian and international films, thanks to its picturesque landscape and its historic cities.

One of the most famous films shot in Basilicata was “Il Vangelo secondo Matteo” (1964), directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. The director chose the beautiful Matera, the well known city in Basilicata, as the location to represent biblical Jerusalem in his film. The streets and ancient architecture of Matera have helped to create the authentic atmosphere for the movie.

Another title that made Basilicata famous is “Christ stopped at Eboli” (1979), directed by Francesco Rosi. The film tells the story of Levi, a doctor and anti-fascist writer, exiled in Basilicata during the Fascist regime. Moreover, the film shows the rural landscapes and the life of the locals, offering a striking look at the region.

In recent years, Basilicata has become an increasingly popular destination for major film productions. The famous James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace” (2008) includes scenes shot in the city of Craco, an old abandoned village, offering an evocative setting. Another example is Montedoro, movie set in the homonymous ghost village in Basilicata.

The region has also attracted contemporary Italian filmmakers. “Basilicata Coast to Coast” (2010), directed by Rocco Papaleo, is a comedy that follows the adventures of a musical band. Crossing the region, showing the breathtaking landscapes and local traditions. Addittionally, Basilicata was chosen as the location for the famous American television series “The Young Pope” (2016). Created by the famous Italian director, Paolo Sorrentino and played by Jude Law. The city of Matera was used as a backdrop to represent the Vatican and other emblematic places in the series.

This beautiful region keeps its strong connection with the world of cinema, thanks to its fascinating locations and its unique environment. As a result, Basilicata continues to be chosen by Italian and international directors for its natural and historical beauty. Thus helping to promote its culture and attract tourists interested in cinema.

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Italian culture & Cinema

Liguria: between evocative locations and history, the region that continues to inspire

Liguria is an Italian region that has had very strong links with the
cinema over the years. The beauty and variety of its landscapes have attracted many directors and film producers, who chose Liguria as a location for their films. Liguria as a location to shoot their films. In this article, we will explore the link between Liguria and cinema, analysing the shooting of famous films and
local productions. Liguria has a variety of landscapes that make it an ideal location for many film productions. Its coasts, with their beaches, cliffs and port cities, have often been used as a backdrop for adventure films and comedies.
Backdrop for adventure films and romantic comedies. The Ligurian hinterland, on the other hand,
with its mountains, valleys and ancient villages, has attracted directors who sought an authentic location for historical films and dramas. One of the most most famous films shot in Liguria is ‘The Leopard’ by Luchino Visconti, who used the Palazzo dei Rolli in Genoa as a set for scenes of the
house of the Salinas. The film, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1963, is a classic of Italian cinematography and made the Palazzo dei Rolli famous, later included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

But it is not only great directors who choose Liguria as the location for
their films. In recent years, in fact, many local productions have been realised in this region. One of the best known films is ‘La meglio Gioventù’ by Marco Tullio Giordana, a family epic that follows the
vicissitudes of two brothers between the 1960s and the 2000s. The film was largely filmed in Genoa and Liguria, and paid homage to the beauty of the region. In addition to film productions, Liguria also has a
strong tradition of film festivals. The Genoa Film Festival for example, is an annual event that provides a platform for the presentation of films by emerging directors and independent productions.

In conclusion, the link between Liguria and cinema has been very strong over the
over the years, thanks to the beauty of its landscapes and the variety of its
its locations. The region has inspired many directors, who have chosen to shoot
their films in this unique setting. But Liguria has also been a source of
inspiration for many local productions, which have found in this region the perfect
perfect setting for their stories. In any case, the link between Liguria and
cinema is destined to last for a long time to come, thanks to its unspoilt beauty
and its ability to still inspire directors and film producers from
all over the world. It has to be said that the relationship between Liguria and cinema does not only end in the choice of the region as a location for filming, but also extends to the
production and distribution activities. Liguria, in fact, has a tradition
of cinema-related activities dating back to the 1930s, when the first cinemas were founded in Genoa.
the first arthouse cinemas and the first production and distribution companies were founded in Genoa.
distribution. In the 1960s and 1970s, the region saw a series of production
production activities, with the opening of numerous studios and workshops for
dubbing, special effects and editing. Today, Liguria is home to numerous
production and distribution activities, with companies operating in the sector
production of documentaries, independent films and works of art.

In addition, Liguria has a strong tradition of training in the field of
cinema, thanks to the presence of institutes and schools that offer training and
training and specialisation courses for directors, screenwriters and technicians in the sector.
The National School of Cinema in Genoa, for example, is one of the oldest
schools of cinema in Italy, founded in 1941, which offers courses of advanced
training for film and television production.

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Cinema Pills

Totò: the art of comedy

Antonio De Curtis, better known by the pseudonym Totò, was one of the greatest Italian comedians and actors of the 20th century. He began his artistic career in the teatro di rivista (revue theatre) and later established himself in the cinema, becoming an icon of Italian cinema. He distinguished himself for his great versatility, moving with ease from comedy to irony, from satire to parody, from poetry to drama. His comic style, which combined extraordinary mimicry skills with an incomparable dialectal verve, won over the Italian public and made him a much-loved figure.

Throughout his career, Totò worked with some of the greatest directors of Italian cinema, including Fellini, De Sica, Monicelli and Dino Risi. His most famous films include ‘Miseria e nobiltà‘, ‘Guardie e ladri’, ‘Totòtruffa ’62’ and ‘La grande guerra’. He was not only a great comic actor: he was also a committed artist, always attentive to the social and political issues of his time. In 1948, for example, he wrote and performed the comedy ‘Non è vero… ma ci credo’. The film denounced the corruption and hypocrisy of post-war Italian society.

Totò died in 1967, but his artistic legacy is still very strong today. His jokes, his imitations, and his expressions are still taken up and quoted on many occasions. His unique figure remains an icon of Italian cinema and comedy in general. A complete artist, capable of making people laugh and reflect, of moving and entertaining. His figure still remains a reference point for all those who love cinema and comedy.

One of Totò’s distinctive characteristics was his ability to improvise and his ability to make every situation comical. Although he had a script, he often used his creativity and spontaneity to enrich his performances and add comic elements.

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Visit Italy With Movies

Monica Vitti, two souls of a unique artist

5 David di Donatello, 3 Silver Ribbons, 12 Golden Globes, 1 ciak d’oro, 1 Golden Lion.

During the 60s, Ms Vitti embodied the neurosis of Italian society, only to cure them with laughs and comedy during the 70s. After graduating at the Rome’s National Academy of Dramatic Arts, Monica worked first in the theatre and then as a voice actor. Cinema came after being noticed by Michelangelo Antonioni, who became her partner in life and at work.

Antonioni wanted her for his “trilogy of incommunicability”, three black and white films, with unforgettable scenes and roles. Consequently these film became an important part of the history of Italian cinema. In the first movie, L’Avventura (1960), Vitti is the tormented Claudia; La Notte(1961) she is the girl who seduces Marcello Mastroianni. Finally L’Eclisse (1962), she plays Vittoria, a young literary translator.

In 1967, her relationship with Antonioni was over and Ms Vitti decided to reinvent herself, acting in comedy movies. The very popular Commedia all’Italiana – allowing the public to discover an unusual side of herself. She acted in comedies with directors like Roger Vadim, Luciano Salce, Tinto Brass. Mainly thanks to her acting skills, Ms Vitti managed to create unforgettable comedy characters and roles that have become part of the history of Italian cinema. The great Adelaide in Dramma Della Gelosia by Ettore Scola or Ninì Tirabusciò in “La donna che Inventò la Mossa” ,Teresa in “Teresa la Ladra”. She also performed along with the most famous comedians of the times, from Alberto Sordi to Ugo Tognazzi.

Two more unforgettable performances of the great actress are In “La ragazza con la pistola”, directed by Mario Monicelli. Here Monica is Assunta Patanè, a Sicilian girl who moves to the UK, seeking revenge after being abandoned. In addition, “La pacifista” directed by Miklós Jancsó when she acted with Pierre Clémenti. Monica Vitti was not only a great artist, but also a genuine Italian, given that constant dichotomy between comedy and drama. Undoubtedly, she was perfect and credible in both dramatic and comedic roles, making people laugh and cry like no one else. Monica Vitti was a unique artist. She embodied the two souls of Italy, the perpetual changing between drama and farce, comedy and tragedy, sadness and happiness.

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Visit Italy With Movies

Fernando Di Leo, the director who inspired Quentin Tarantino

Screenwriter and director, Fernando di Leo is one of the most interesting authors of Italian cinema from the 1960s onwards. Master of garish, intricately plotted, ultra-violent stories about pimps and petty gangsters. Di Leo explored the political extremism and mafia corruption in Italy during the 1970’s.

After briefly working in Rome’s film school Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Fernando Di Leo wrote several scripts for Westerns, often uncredited. This included work on A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More. Later on, di Leo specialized in the noir genre and was inspired by the violent novels of Giorgio Scerbanenco. Afterwards, he was fiercely committed to making movies that addressed contemporary social and political issues.

One special admirer is Quentin Tarantino. Who modeled Pulp Fiction’s three-variations-on-a-theme structure on Di Leo’s “Milieu trilogy”: Caliber 9 (1972). A small-time gangster long-suspected of stealing $300,000 from a Milanese boss . The film, The Italian Connection, offers some early models for the wisecracking, laconic hitmen played by John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction.

Tarantino recalled “One of the first films I watched was pivotal to my choice of profession was I Padroni della Città (Mister Scarface). I had never even heard the name Fernando Di Leo before. I just remember that after watching that film I was totally hooked. I became obsessed and started systematically watching other films directed by Di Leo. I owe so much to Fernando in terms of passion and filmmaking”.

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