Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2014
THOSE looking to experience the best of Italian culture will be able to do so at the upcoming Italian Film Festival. Marina Solomon has the lowdown on what you can expect at the festival.
Those Happy Years is a warm period drama set in the ’70s about an artist trying to establish himself while holding his family together. Image supplied.
Forget about visiting Lygon St for a brief escape to Italy this September as the 15th Lavazza Italian Film Festival returns to Melbourne to bring Mediterranean romance to cinema screens!
From September 17 to October 12 across several Palace Cinemas in Melbourne, the festival will be screening 35 new features and documentaries, as well as a classic, and will feature some of the country’s most engaging actors including Kim Rossi Stuart, Monica Bellucci and Sergio Rubini.
Given Italy’s rich history in cinema, there certainly appears to be no shortage of quality Italian films from the country that will quench the thirst of those clamouring after them. One such film is the festival’s opening movie, Marina – a stunning biopic that tells the story of Rocco Granata, one of the country’s most beloved singers whose song, ‘Marina’, became one of the biggest international hits at the time.
Biopic, Marina, will be the opening film of this year’s festival. Image supplied.
For those after drama, there’s Fabio Mollo’s debut feature film, South is Nothing. Bringing to the festival a story of an angry teenage girl and her inability to accept the possible death of her missing young brother, the film has been described as striking and honest.
If you’re dying to see some films direct from the world famous Cannes Film Festival, the Italian Film Festival will also have you covered with films like The Wonders, starring Monica Belluci and Darker Than Midnight, directed by Asia Argento (daughter of famed Italian horror director, Dario Argento) and starring Charlotte Gainsbourg.
A cult hit in Italy, I Can Quit Whenever I want, is a comedy about unemployed graduates who look to produce and traffic synthetic drugs.
In addition to the films of the festival, there’ll also be a chance to be lavished with authentic Italian wine thanks to the festival’s partnership with Enoteca Sileno. If Italian wine isn’t quite to your taste, Italian espresso will also be brewing thanks to Lavazza who, once again, will serve as the naming rights partner of the festival. Italian food provided by DOC will also be served.
Time to get your Italian culture fix, with the best of both worlds – film and dining – being offered up at the Lavazza Italian Film Festival!
For more information about the Lavazza Italian Film Festival, including its full program, session times, ticketing and other special events, please visit the festival’s official website.