The Cinema Rediscovered, Bologna 2012
“Cinema is full-sized excitement” says Italian director Gianni Amelio in the cine-mythological documentary Sodankylä Forever, and I couldn’t agree more at this festival. Searing heat, glorious restorations of brilliant films, the perfectly cosy Cine-Mino mobile cinema, and an epically-scaled outdoor screen in the city’s Piazza Maggiore. Also picked up an eye-opening book, Traveling Cinema in Europe.
The Lost Picture Show was there to speak as part of the Europa Cinemas’ Young Audience Seminar about new realities and opportunities for cinemas facing economic and digital transition. We were part of the “Pop-up or Pop-in” session and workshop, with the lovely Louise Leghammar of the Röda Kvarn cinema in Sweden. Heard some crazy, brilliant ideas for pop-up events centered around A Trip to The Moon… something about priests in a bouncy castle sticks in my mind. The seminar, led by Professor Ian Christie, was filled with inspiring and inspired cine-people from around Europe, discussing everything from crowdfunding and fantastic cinema spaces to the cinematic canon and injections of creativity. Many thanks to Maddy Probst of Watershed and Fatima Djoumer of Europa Cinema for having us! Check out the full seminar programme here.
Hidden Gems:
La Romana / Dir. Luigi Zampa / 1954
A death-defying merry-go-round of lovers and intrigues whirls young Adriana from innocence through prostitutions and redemption in this highly stylized film with the backdrop of Fascist Rome. Pina Piovani gives a stand-out performance as Adriana’s mother who always knows.
Documenteur / Dir. Agnes Varda / 1981
A stunningly delicate and fraught saga of a mother and son drifting in L.A. starring the enigmatic Sabine Mamou and Varda’s own son, Mathieu Demy. The great woman herself was there to introduce the film, and last year Demy used footage from this film in his revisiting of the story in Americano.
Madame to Nyobo / Dir. Heinosuke Gosho / 1931
Slapstick comedy about a struggling playwrite, featuring one of the best Japanese jazz band scenes ever.
Black Roots / Dir. Lionel Rogosin / 1970
A truly unique and vital documentary of the Black experience in American over generations, told by musician activists. A filmmaker and a film that deserve to be seen far more often.
Favorites from the piazza:
Lawrence of Arabia / Dir. David Lean / 1962
I’ve seen it, we’ve all seen it, but on the expanse of screen of Pizza Maggiore in searing nighttime heat, I rediscovered this film with fresh eyes.
La Grande Illusion / Dir. Jean Renoir / 1937
Just one of the greatest films ever. See it. That’s all I’m saying.
Lola / Dir. Jacques Demy / 1961
A fragmented, spiralining fairy tale of sailors, cabaret girls and the cinematic inhabitants of Nantes. Go along for the ride.
Viaggio in Italia / Dir. Roberto Rossellini / 1984
Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders can’t help but shine in this classic drama that picks apart class, Britishness and relationships gone stale.
