3rd Annual Italian Film Festival

The San Diego Italian Film Festival celebrates its third year, starting October 16 through November 7. The festival provides an opportunity for all Italians and lovers of Italian culture to rediscover passion, love, and the best flavors of life in this season’s festival.

This year's San Diego Italian Film Festival features major recently released Italian films by internationally acclaimed award-winning directors. Festival films have English subtitles.

The Festival is made possible through a collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Los Angeles, the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, and the Ministero degli Affari Esteri in Rome and independent distributors.

Festival continues until Saturday, November 7

The film for October 22nd is: Ovosodo

A revelation of the 1997 cinematic season, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, Ovosodo takes place in the lower-class neighborhood of the same name in Livorno. Virzì used only non-professional actors, apart from Nicoletta Braschi, Roberto Benigni’s wife, to narrate the coming of age story of a youngster from a loving but troubled family. The voice-over narration does not detract from a story that is fast pacing and jam-packed with anecdotes and information, but always spirited and insightful. While hinting at a modern-day Amarcord, Fellini’s take on growing up in a provincial town, Virzì also anticipates Muccino’s movies. Ovosodo depicts the school years of Piero from elementary to high school. Despite financial challenges, he lives a healthy adolescence, unlike many of his well-to-do peers. The film celebrates a resourceful and unpretentious lower class rarely seen on screen and pays homage to the novels of formation of Twain and Dickens beloved by Virzì. (Review by Prof. Pasqual Verdiccio, UCSD)

Admission: Free, but $5 donation requested.



For more information, please call: (619) 238-7559
or visit: www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com