Italian film fest debuts

Film enthusiasts, students of Italian culture and those jaded by Cinemagic's lack of sophistication might find something of interest this weekend at International House. "Authors of the New Italian Cinema," a film festival presented by the University's Center for Italian Studies and the Film Studies Program, opened there yesterday, as speakers addressed about 70 members of the Penn community before presenting the festival's opening film, Ecco Fatto -- or "That's It" in English -- for viewing. Along with New York University, Emory University and the University of California at Los Angeles, Penn was chosen by Italia Cinema and Cinecitt^ Holding -- Italy's version of Hollywood -- to showcase five recent Italian films. The purpose of the festival, said Nicola Gentili, assistant director of the University's new Film Studies Program, is to introduce a new generation of Italian directors to American audiences. During the opening remarks yesterday, Stuart Curran, director of the Center for Italian Studies, emphasized "the centrality of film to Italian culture," saying, "no country so small carries such a powerful legacy in film." Besides Ecco Fatto, a colorful comedy about forgery and jealousy, the festival will include four other films: I Protagonisti, a murder story; Un Amore and Il Tempo Dell'Amore, two avant-garde love stories; and Radiofreccia, a loosely autobiographical story of director Luciano Ligabue, a former rock star turned filmmaker. I Protagonisti and Un Amore are being released for the first time in the United States. Millicent Marcus, director of the Film Studies Program at Penn and considered the foremost scholar of Italian film in America, said, "[Italian cinema] is alive and well." She hopes the festival will confirm this. Vijay Gambhir, an audience member and professor in the South Asia Regional Studies Department, said she was interested in cinema and enjoyed the Indian Film Festival held in International House last year. She is enthusiastic about the festival this year as well. "Authors of the New Italian Cinema" is free for all attendees and will feature one film tonight and tomorrow and two on Saturday. Additionally, a reception will be held in International House at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow, after the conclusion of Un Amore. It will be open to the public.