Paolo Virzi in Mid-Career
December 15–30, 2006
Paolo Virzi taps into the vintage spirit of Italy’s beloved commedia all’italiana genre with features that deliver a special combination of compassionate laughter and social critique. With a light but assured touch, Virzi and his regular writing partner Francesco Bruni skewer contemporary mores and social behavior while gracefully balancing large ensemble casts—ranging from Italy’s finest actors to energetic and talented unknowns. That the satire never loses genuine compassion for characters haplessly in thrall to their own follies is a trademark of Virzi’s delightful comedies. This mid-career retrospective introduces the director’s popular brand of films, which has reinvigorated the genre with an intelligent and generous balance of laughter and humanity. All films directed by Virzi, from Italy, and in Italian with English subtitles, unless otherwise noted. Virzi will be present for screenings on December 15, 16, and 17.
Organized by Jytte Jensen, Curator, Department of Film; with the generous collaboration of Cinecittà Holding, Rome (Camilla Cormanni, Rossella Rinaldi); and The Italian Cultural Institute, New York (Amelia Carpenito). Thanks to Cecchi Gori Group, Filmexport Group, Telecine Productions, and Empire Pictures.
Ferie D’Agosto (August Vacation). 1996. With Silvio Orlando, Sabrina Ferilli. Two families who summer in neighboring houses on a tiny island in the Tirrenian sea have very different notions of “being Italian”—but their petty controversies are nothing compared to what happens when a young Ghanaian refugee is introduced into the social and intellectual divide between the two groups. 108 min.
Friday, December 15, 6:00; Wednesday, December 27, 8:00. T2
La Bella Vita (Living It Up). 1994. With Claudio Bigagli, Sabrina Ferilli. Camaraderie between coworkers and neighbors in a small steel-mill town is warmly observed in Virzi’s first film, centered on a newlywed couple and their place in this tight community. When “the beautiful life” turns sour and the couple’s resources dwindle, Virzi credibly leaves their humanity and good intentions intact, even amid the difficulties of reality. 95 min.
Friday, December 15, 8:15; Saturday, December 16, 6:30; Thursday, December 28, 8:00. T2
My Name Is Tanino. 2001. With Corrado Fortuna, Don Franks. Often veering toward slapstick, this comedy about a hapless young man who travels from his small Sicilian village to New York in pursuit of his summer love (Rachel McAdams) is equally adept at making caricatures out of provincial Italians, Italian American Mafia types, and waspy Rhode Island dwellers. In Italian, English; English subtitles. 124 min.
Saturday, December 16, 4:00; Friday, December 29, 6:00. T2
Caterina va in citta (Caterina in the Big City). 2003. With Alice Tegli, Sergio Castellitto. When Caterina moves from a comfortable provincial sea town to the city, her curious soul is sought by opposing factions at her new school, represented by two girls from vastly different backgrounds. The film is intended to parallel Italian politics and the dissatisfaction of ordinary citizens. 106 min.
Sunday, December 17, 1:30;
Friday, December 29, 8:30. T2
Ovosodo (Hardboiled Egg). 1997. With Edoardo Gabriellini, Claudia Pandolfi. The movie’s first hilarious scene portrays the main character’s birth in Ovosodo, a low-rent quarter in the industrial Tuscan harbor town of Livorno (Virzi’s birthplace). A mostly unknown cast and a fast-paced, firmly rooted story give life to astonishing characters and clever observations of class difference. 103 min.
Sunday, December 17, 3:45; Thursday, December 28, 6:00; Saturday, December 30, 7:00. T2
Baci e abbracci (Kisses and Hugs). 1998. With Francesco Paolantoni, Massimo Gambacciani. Set in Livorno and featuring a spirited cast of mostly young unknowns, this bittersweet comedy follows an ill-advised Christmas party thrown off kilter by a case of mistaken identity. With warmth and understanding for its honest but unfortunate characters, the film portrays a credible Christmas miracle. 104 min.
Sunday, December 17, 6:00; Wednesday, December 27, 6:00. T2
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