Cinema Italiano is a unique cultural Honolulu event that shares the beauty of Italian cinema and culture with Honolulu’s community. Now in its 5th year, this film festival is the joint project of Istituto Italiano di Cultura San Francisco, Friends of Italy Society of Hawai’i, Honolulu Academy of Arts’ Doris Duke Theatre, Ferrari/Maserati of Hawai’i and Movie Museum. These diverse organizations cooperate to form a cultural bridge between Italy and Hawaii: Cinema Italiano 2007 sponsored lectures by visiting Italian directors and performing artists to Oahu public schools. This year, in partnership with the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawai’i, the Cinema Italiano Future Filmmaker Award in the amount of $2000 was awarded to Thomas Takemoto-Chock. As recipient of this award, Mr. Takemoto-Chock has the honor of creating a short film about Cinema Italiano for the festival.
Each year, Cinema Italiano seeks to share the best in Italian cinema to Honolulu’s film lovers, with an eye toward artistic merit, cultural relevance and diversity. Cinema Italiano 2008, September 25 – 30, promises to be the best so far!
The festival opens on Thursday with the USA premiere of Director Paolo Virzi`’s new film A WHOLE LIFE AHEAD aka Tutta la vita Davanti. This snapshot of contemporary Italy is an acerbically funny commentary on “perma-temps”. Virzi`’s 2003 comedy CATERINA IN THE BIG CITY was a winner of four international film awards, including a David di Donatello for the lead actress.
On Friday there is the Hawaii premiere of GOOD MORNING, HEARTACHE aka Riprendimi (2008), nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year. This comedy also brings up the topic of temping, but in the context of a filmmaker’s romance.
Saturday’s DAYS AND CLOUDS aka Giorni e Nuvole (2007), a Hawaii premiere, is a sensitively limned study of a middle-aged couple in crisis by Silvio Soldini (BREAD AND TULIPS). Lead actress Margherita Buy won a David di Donatello Award this year for her performance. This screening of DAYS AND CLOUDS kicks off an exciting new program called CINE & CENA (film and food). For $35 you can enjoy a scrumptious Italian dinner by Che Pasta, Roberto Pizza Party and gelato by La Gelateria in the Academy courtyard before watching the film. Live provided music by Hot Club Hulaville. If you just want the “cena” and not the “cine”, dinner alone will cost $30. No host bar
Sunday’s RED LIKE THE SKY aka Rosso Come il Cielo (2007) illustrates the fascinating true story of nearly-blind Mirco Mencacci’s childhood journey to become one of Italy’s most gifted sound engineers. A Hawaii premiere, this deeply inspiring film for all ages won 9 international film awards, including a David of the Youth. University of Hawaii professor of Italian Dr. Valeria Wenderoth will give a talk following the 1:00 PM screening.
On Monday, NIGHT BUS aka Notturno Bus (2007), a Hawaii premiere, is a pulp-noir-romantic comedy about a bus driver who gets mixed up with a bad girl who’s implicated in blackmail involving the Italian President.
Wrapping up the festival on Tuesday is the Hawaii premiere of NON PENSARCI aka Don’t Think About it (2007). This refreshing comedy follows the fortunes of a 30-something rocker who returns home seeking childhood comforts, only to find his family needs his help. Winner of three awards at the Venice Film Festival, this delight is a fitting finale to the 2008 Cinema Italiano.
Cinema Italiano 2008 is now accepting orders for flash passes. For $60, a flash pass pays admission for all six films, and allows entry into the theater 40 minutes prior to screening time, 10 minutes before ticket sales begin. Click here for information on how to buy a Flash Pass.
