An event dedicated to Italian cinema was held last 27 September in Mumbai, at the Regal cinema theatre in Colaba, a historical one in the Indian capital, in the presence of director Giuseppe Tornatore, Oscar winner for Cinema Paradiso.
This film kicked off the “CINEMA ITALIAN STYLE” festival, dedicated to Italian classics, including Senso, La dolce vita, Once Upon a Time in America, and Marriage Italian Style.
Presented by the Consul General of Italy in Mumbai, Walter Ferrara, and the Director of the Italian Institute of Culture, Francesca Amendola, – in collaboration with Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of the Film Heritage Foundation, and with the support of Axis Bank and IED Istituto Europeo di Design – the festival welcomed Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore, on his first visit to India, recording a sell-out in the 1,200-seat hall.
The festival opened with Cinema Paradiso, followed by screenings of Malena and Ennio, a tribute to composer Ennio Morricone. Furthermore, the audience enjoyed restored classics by Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita, 1960), Vittorio De Sica (Marriage Italian Style, 1964), Luchino Visconti (Senso, 1954) and Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in America, 1984).
Maestro Tornatore, who also held a Masterclass and a session entitled “A Conversation with Tornatore” for Indian film students and all film enthusiasts, graciously and empathetically thanked the entire audience and emphasised the importance of watching films in cinema theatres. He said: “Our task and challenge is to bring people back to cinema theatres, because a film seen there is a different experience, compared to being watched on small screens”.
At the end, Maestro Tornatore could meet with representatives of the world of Indian culture and cinema, as well as Bollywood, in a private evening event hosted by the Consul General and FHF.
