Cinema Italia

Event information

Palace Cinemas and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Sydney (IIC) are excited to present Cinema Italia 2021: Multi-ethnic Italy: the new Italians, a selection of contemporary Italian movies that gives perspective from Italy’s migrants, experiencing Italy’s culture, both beautiful and flawed, through a foreign lens.

Hosted at Palace Cinemas Norton Street on one Tuesday of each month, each guest will receive a prosecco on arrival, with a film introduction to precede the screening, followed by a Q&A with a special guest and moderated by Antonella Beconi, convenor for Italian at the Center of Continuing Education, University of Sydney, on behalf of IIC.

Admission Prices:
General Admission $20
Palace Movie Club, IIC Members, Students* $15

Location
Palace Cinemas Norton Street
99 Norton Street, Leichhardt 2040.

Session Details 
Includes a glass of prosecco on arrival. 6.30pm introduction and film, followed by Q&A.

This series was made possible thanks to the collaboration of Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Sydney, Sydney University and Palace Cinemas.

*Student discount includes the following organisations – University of Sydney, UTS, UNSW, Macquarie University, Center of Continuing Education.

Synopsis

MARCH 16
Bangla [2019, 84’]
Q&A with Marco Lucchi former producer of sbs radio + Gina Rubiano Travelling Film Festival Marketing and Publicity Coordinator at Sydney Film Festival
A romantic comedy with a huge heart and charm to match, director Phaim Bhuiyan’s debut is a fresh and spirited portrait of the complications of young love caught between very different beliefs… FULL SYNOPSIS

APRIL 13
The First Snowfall [La Prime Neve, 2013, 104’]
Q&A with Lucia Sorbera Chair of Arabic Studies Usyd + Giorgia Alu’ Associate Professor of Italian Studies Usyd
Andrea Segre’s second film after multi award-winning Shun Li and the Poet is a stunningly shot moving drama about a friendship that develops between a refugee from Togo and the grandson of his elderly employer… FULL SYNOPSIS

MAY 11
Pizza & Dates [Pitza E Datteri, 2014, 92’]
Q&A with Gili Kugler – senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Classical Hebrew Usyd + Vrasidas Karalis Professor of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Usyd
This playful comedy focuses on cultural exchange and integration and is shot entirely within the splendid fairytale canals of Venice where East and West have for long met historically, artistically and romantically… FULL SYNOPSIS

JULY 20
Marina [2013, 118’]
Q&A with Marina Freri executive producer at ABC for RN breakfast + Jason Di Rosso film critic, ABC
A gloriously entertaining biopic that tells the true story of beloved singer, songwriter and accordionist, Rocco Granata, from his early life as an immigrant in Belgium to his emergence as a worldwide musical phenomenon with his 1959 song Marina, one of the biggest international hits of that era… FULL SYNOPSIS

AUGUST 24
Shun Li and the Poet [Lo Sono-Li, 2012, 100’]
Q&A with Yingje Guo Chair of Chinese Studies + Gabriele Abbondanza Associate Fellow at the Institute of International Affairs (IAI)
In Andrea Segre’s poignant debut feature, Shun Li is a softly-spoken young Chinese immigrant who is moved by her Chinese broker from a clothing factory to a new job as a barmaid in Chioggia, a small fishing community on the Venetian lagoon… FULL SYNOPSIS

OCTOBER 19
Alì Blue Eyes [Alì Ha Gli Occhi Azzurri, 2012, 100’]
Q&A with Lucia Sorbera Chair of Arabic Studies Usyd + Francesco Borghesi Chair of Italian Studies Usyd
Nader (Nader Sarhan), a 16-year-old Italian-born son of Egyptian Muslim parents, is at the centre of this powerful tale of a young man caught between his peers and his cultural roots. In love with Italian girl Brigitte, he defies family wishes by running away from home. When his hot-headed friend Stefano gets into a fight, Nader stabs a young Romanian in his defence, forcing Nader to flee the scene and go into hiding. Spending his days cold, hungry and afraid he avoids the wounded victim’s family, who are now seeking revenge… FULL SYNOPSIS

NOVEMBER 16
The Landlords [Padroni Di Casa, 2012, 90’]
Q&A with Antonia Rubino Associate Professor of Italian Studies Usyd + Cristiana Palmieri Research Affiliate of Italian Studies, Usyd
Equal parts drama, comedy and thriller, The Landlords is a riveting film from actor-turneddirector, Edoardo Gabbriellini (I Am Love) with a sensational cast including legendary real-life singer Gianni Morandi making a return to the big screen after 40 years… FULL SYNOPSIS