Salve ragazzi,
Let’s take a look at the filmmakers coming up today. Who will be the next Paolo Sorrentino or Marco Bellocchio?
Jonas Carpignano, 39
If you haven’t taken a look at Jonas Carpignano’s work, please do it now. He is, in my opinion, among the top 5 Italian directors today, up there with Sorrentino and Bellocchio. He takes what they’ve accomplished and brings realism to a whole new level. His sympathetic and compassionate portraits of real people, particularly the marginalized and those without a voice, are unrivaled.
Take a look at his films,
A Chiara, about a teenage girl who finds out that her father isn’t who she thought he was,
and A Ciambra, about Pio, a 14-year-old who is desperate to prove he’s a man but quickly finds out that it’s not as easy as it looks.
At 34, the D’Innocenzo Brothers are just getting started.
Having collaborated on the screenplay for Matteo Garrone’s Dogman, we had an early clue that these guys were going to think out of the box.
If you are the kind of viewer who doesn’t mind a darker side to your Italian movies experience, check out:
In Favolacce, the kids in the suburbs aren’t alright. The parents should sleep with one eye open. It won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin Film Festival.
And in Boys Cry, poor kids in the suburbs get mixed up with the wrong people. The twins shared the Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director for this film.
Marco D’Amore, 42, is more than just a great actor.
You loved him as Ciro Di Marzio in Gomorrah, but one day he may be remembered for his directing. He directed 8 episodes of Gomorrah and then went on to helm the prequel (and sequel) to the Gomorrah story, L’Immortale (The Immortal). If you loved Gomorrah and haven’t watched L'Immortale, DO IT NOW! It’s a very satisfying crime story.
Alice Rohrwacher, 41, is another one who will probably go down as one of the greats of all time.
The awards and praises have been raining down on Alice ever since 2011 when she directed her first feature film, Corpo Celeste (Heavenly Body), which premiered at the Directors' Fortnight during the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Since then, she’s won the Grand Prix at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival for Le Meraviglie (The Wonders), been nominated for an Oscar, and taken films to Cannes three more years (winning best screenplay for Lazzaro Felice.)
I insist you get to know her if you haven’t already:
I have to admit I don’t know anything about Carolina Cavalli, 30, but I sure like the looks of her film, Amanda. It stars Benedetta Porcaroli, who you know from Baby and 18 Regali.
Critics are saying…
"A refreshingly unconventional and acidic deadpan comic portrait of an offbeat female friendship.” - Screen International
"…a smart, stylish debut by the Italian writer-director Carolina Cavalli, plays like “Lady Bird” by way of Wes Anderson’s deadpan existentialism.” - New York Times
“Cavalli’s film consecrates a ferocity as refreshing as it is infectious.” - Slant Magazine
USA distribution by Oscilloscope Films will likely go to streaming after it makes the rounds in arthouses. So far, we have these cities and dates:
7/7 NEW YORK, NY IFC CENTER
7/7 LOS ANGELES, CA LAEMMLE ROYAL
7/14 GLENDALE, CA LAEMMLE GLENDALE
7/14 ENCINO, CA. LAEMMLE TOWN CENTER
7/15 CLAREMONT, CA LAEMMLECLAREMONT
7/21 COLUMBUS, OH GATEWAY FILM CENTER
I’ll be watching for more information, and I can’t wait for the chance to see the film.
Pietro Castellitto, 31, is Italian cinema royalty, and has joined the family business. His father is Sergio Castellitto (Non Ti Muovere, Caterina Va In Città), and his mother is the author and screenwriter Margaret Mazzantini.
Pietro has established himself as a successful actor (Freaks Out), but we’re just seeing the beginning of what looks to be an interesting directorial career as well. His directorial debut is called I Preditori (The Predators), a dark comedy of errors that exhibits the genetic makeup of his creative parents and at the same time thumbs its nose at their old-school ways. Pietro creates an exquisite nightmare of a societal law of the jungle where everyone is a predator but one who imagines himself at the top of the food chain.
You can watch I Preditori with
and
I am a big fan of Brando Improta, 33, because he does what I have been complaining not enough Italians do enough. He makes romantic comedies! If you love a good “get the popcorn out and watch good-looking people fall in love” kind of movie, you’ll love Brando.
His latest is actually called A Sweet Romantic Comedy - that’s the English title, anyway. In Italian it’s Ed è subito commedia. Giada and Marco met when they were 12 and meet up again 20 years later.
Have a fun Brando-Binge-Watch with
Look What I Found
I found a docudrama about her life and career that tells the story of the wildly popular artist. In 1993, she won the Sanremo Music Festival and it launched a 3 decade career with over 70 million albums sold worldwide, a Grammy award, and five world tours.
It’s called Piacere Di Conoscerti (Pleased To Meet You) and I think you might enjoy it even if you’ve never heard of her.
Fun Fact
This song that she sings with Nek is one of my favorites - Sei Solo Tu (It’s just you).
QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION
Has anybody watched Nanni Moretti’s Tre Piani yet? Dying to know what you thought!
Un bacione 💋,
Cheri
America’s Cheerleader For Italian Cinema
ANOTHER good newsletter, Cheri! Thank you!
I have been on a Nanni Moretti kick lately, and I just watched “Three Floors.” I loved it, really.
For starters, beautiful cinematography and superb acting by all, including the children. The film has some highs/lows storyline wise - especially early in the film. It was like a story of stories, with some additionally emerging-evolving stories. There is certainly a fair share of sorrow, pain, and tragedy, but also hope. I really loved the “soft” transitions, or segues, including the different stages of time - without the back and forth. :-)
While I am a fan of Moretti, I feel like this one really does “have it all.” This film gets a strong thumbs up from me! ❤️🇮🇹
Oh, maybe old news, but did you see the recent Variety article about Paolo Sorrentino’s new film, paying homage again to Napoli, land of the “Partenopians?” Looks like filming just got underway in June. The film is not yet titled, and looks star studded! ❤️🇮🇹
Great list. I did watch the Laura Pasini docudrama. I love her music. I just watched “Mixtape by Erry” on Netflix and it was so funny and great. Love your list and will have to check out some of these films. Amanda looks interesting