Back to Events

Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz

ITALIAN FILM SERIES
Held under the auspices of Istituto Italiano di Cultura, San Francisco

The Veteran's Hall, 846 Front St, Santa Cruz
7:00p.m.

Dates for 2009:
Feb. 1
March 1
April 5

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008
Lezioni di volo (Flying Lessons)
Director: Francesca Archibugi (2007)

Pollo and his best friend Curry are Roman teenagers who travel to India after failing their final exams. After facing difficulties there, they are helped by an Italian doctor, Chiara, played by the beautiful Giovanna Mezzogiorno, who takes them to a desert village. Here each of them experiences something to take forward into their future lives. Using the backgrounds of the two boys-Pollo is Jewish and Curry is an Indian who was adopted into an Italian family-as guideposts for these life lessons, this beautifully rendered drama manages to sensitively delineate cultural details while telling a moving coming-of-age tale. 106 min.

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008
Le Fate ignorante (His Secret Life)
Director: Ferzan Ozpetek (2001)

While recovering from the shock of her husband's death, an Italian woman (played by the extremely talented Margherita Buy) discovers that her husband had a secret lover for the 7 of their 15 years together. But she's even more surprised to discover that he and his lover (Stefano Accorsi) were part of an extended "family" of gays, transgenders and other social outcasts. As Antonia attempts to understand her husband's secret, she becomes accepted into this commune. This touching film places caring and understanding before judgment or anger. 106 min.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008
Il Cuore altrove (Incantato or The Heart is Elsewhere)
Director: Pupi Avati (2003)

Incantato is a poignant film set in the Rome and Bologna of the 1920s. This engaging tale follows Nello Balocchi, a 35-year-old college professor dispatched to Bologna by his affluent parents to find a spouse. While attending a tea dance, he meets high-spirited blind beauty Angela Gardini -- who captures Nello's heart and promptly turns his world topsy-turvy. Long-standing favorite Giancarlo Gianinni plays Nello's skirt-chasing father to perfection. 103 min.