Italian Cinema Gets It Right

Rome is an incredible city. It’s got great coffee, good food, a superb climate and more importantly, two of the most innovative cinema programmes I’ve come across.

The first is Nuovo Sacher, an outdoor cinema run by Nanni Morretti and Angelo Barbagallo; both of whom are incredibly talented film makers.

They show a program of films solely based on stuff they like, all shown in the original languages.

This trip I wasn’t able to get there, because they only screen a couple of nights a week. However, I’d highly recommend any film maker to drop in, if they’re in the city, as this is a gathering place for a large section of Italy’s film making population.

Plus, great European movies shown outdoors are fab, regardless.

Where I did manage to get to was the Case Del Cinema at the Villa Borghese, one of Rome’s largest and most beautiful parks.

This cinema shows a programme of the world’s greatest films, for free, all year round in their purpose built cinema.

Not only that, they also erect an outdoor screen for the whole of the summer.

This trip I got to watch a pretty cool Ingmar Bergman film, dubbed into Italian, whilst sitting in the middle of the park.

The whole thing is very cool and Carlos, the Logistics Manager, was kind enough to show me round the place and chat to me about the struggle of Italian cinema to embrace HD.

As far as I know there is nothing like this in the UK.

Of course the awful weather is a factor, but really, when you think about the idea that a cinema would promote global independent film makers and their work, by showing films for free to anyone who shows up, is a fairly radical idea. One that I think would benefit any film making community.

By the way, I had a great holiday. Italy is a very cool place.