The Italian Cultural Institute

‘La notte, col profumo dei tigli, benche’ sia tardo aprile, quasi maggio. Ma quell’anno la primavera stentava a farsi avanti…’ ..verses by Pier Paolo Pasolini, from his collection Poesia in forma di rosa, that I came across at the end of the long celebration that London – and our Institute, during a very well attended event – has dedicated to Pasolini the film director, and which mark, as in a photograph, this slow change of season. May: here we are, at long last, and we open it with an original documentary by multi talented anthropologist Franco La Cecla, Un altro mare – In Other Sea, inspired by the story of a fishing community coming from his own homeland of Sicily. Another unmissable, new and intense film will close the month: 365 without 377 – Mumbai. A Year after the Verdict by young newcomer Adele Tulli, an exploration of India’s gay world following the decriminalization of homosexuality.                   While Bernardo Bertolucci’s latest film Io e te – Me and You, adapted from Niccolo’ Ammaniti’s short story arrives on London’s big screens (and Ammaniti will visit the Institute in August, on the occasion of the English translation of this book), we will celebrate his life and work with the first in the series “Let’s Talk about Cinema”, a weekly appointment with films about the masters of Italian cinema: after Bertolucci, Roberto Benigni, Federico Fellini, Vittorio de Sica…every Tuesday at the Institute. On the literary front, May brings us two of the best loved Italian writers: Stefano Benni, in conversation (in Italian) with renowned journalist and fellow novelist Enrico Franceschini, will present his book Di tutte le ricchezze; and Claudio Magris, with critic Martin MacLaughlin, will talk about his memoirs Alla cieca, on the occasion of the publication by Yale University Press of the English translation by Anne Milano Appel . We will be delighted to have such distinguished and interesting guests with us here. I am keen that events on art history are always included in our Institute’s monthly programme. We have two coming up in May, one exploring the past: the conference Gothic and Renaissance Italy on the Eighteenth Century Grand Tour by Rosemary Sweet, Professor of Urban History at the University of Leicester, introduced by Dr John Law, Swansea University; the other, very topical, on Heritage and Conflict: an illustrated talk by Francesco Bandarin, who, as the UNESCO Assistant Director General for Culture, is truly the right person to talk about protection of the world heritage. As usual, this month, our musical dates, which will range from a concert by young pianist Marco Ciampi with his classic repertoire (Mozart, Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninov), to a performance by Coro Polifonico del Monte Gonare for a touch of rearranged Sardinian folk music. Do come to the Italian Cultural Institute: you will always be welcome! Caterina Cardona

Highlights

Italian Language Courses

Monday, April 22, 2013 - Sunday, June 30, 2013

Italian Language Courses

Italian language courses (London) for beginners, intermediate or advanced to suit your needs.A wide choice of Italian lessons (London) with qualified native speakers. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced, whether you want Italian for business >>>

Cinema

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

VITTORIO DE SICA: THAT’S LIFE

A documentary profiling the life and work of another famous Italian film director. In Tthat’s life De Sica discuss his work as an actor, director, his involvement in Neorealism, Italian Comedy and his relationships with actors. A star of Italian >>>

Architecture

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

HERITAGE AND CONFLICT

Throughout the last decades, the world has witnessed several situations in which heritage has been at the core of political, ethnic and religious conflicts. Intangible heritage is also often at the core of conflict or controversy, as it is linked to communities’ >>>

Cinema

Thursday, May 30, 2013

365 WITHOUT 377

On July 2009 the Delhi High Court passed a landmark judgment and repealed Section 377, a colonial legacy that criminalized homosexual relationships. Three characters, Beena, Pallav and Abheena travel through the city of Bombay heading to the celebrations >>>

Cinema

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

TAHRIR-LIBERATION SQUARE

(2011, 90 min) Director Stefano Savona From facebook thumbs up to the battle of stones, a history of hope, fear, despair, anger, pride and elation, the film is the real-time chronicle of the two most exciting weeks in the history of modern Egypt as lived >>>

 

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