Gommorah Oscar Dismay

[Sally Donaldson]

I haven't as yet been able to see the film but as it has had so many good reviews this surely is a blow.

Hopes dashed as Mob drama fails to make cut

(ANSA) - Rome, January 14 - The Italian film world was dismayed by the failure of critically acclaimed Mafia drama Gomorrah to make the cut for the best foreign film Oscar. The article is here - ANSA.it - News in English - Gomorrah Oscar dismay

[Gala Placidia]

It is surprising as the film is excellent.

[Cat Bauer]

Boy, did it take me forever to figure out how to get back into the Italy Forum. It's safer than Fort Knox!

Happy New Year, everyone, and I am actually here for ulterior motives, after I remember how to start a thread. But first I just have to comment on Gommorah.

This year, I sat (and blogged) through the Venice Film Festival. (I used to live in Hollywood.)

After that, I saw Gommorah because a friend of mine told me she had read the book.

I know everyone is thinking all sorts of conspiracies exist, and perhaps they do, but in Hollywood terms, the movie was not... well, I fell asleep. I usually only fall asleep during French films:) Gommorah had a lot of structural problems. To me, there was a much better movie that dealt with similar material released in 2000, called, I Cento Passi, or The 100 Steps. That movie was brilliant -- if you can find it, rent it.

During the Venice Film Festival, I saw great American movies and some REALLY BAD films from all over the world. In fact, I was gloating over it. I was yelling on my blog: HOLLYWOOD CREATES THE BEST STARS! If someone from Hollywood told the French how to make Champagne, or told someone from Parma how to make cheese, I think it would not go over too well... There is something in the sunshine, in the land, in driving with the top down on Sunset Blvd.... there is something real in the non-reality that makes Hollywood movies.

I don't know if anyone has recommend this book, but The Dark Heart of Italy by Tobias Jones is well worth reading.

[Cat Bauer]

I just realized I am missing an opportunity to tell you about two GREAT Italian films. One is called Birdwatchers - Land of the Red Men by Marco Bechis -- that was an Italia/Brazil production.

The other is L'Ultimo Pulcinella by Maurizio Scaparro. That film will be going to America in February, I believe.

[Sally Donaldson]

Some further information about I Cento Passi can be found here - Cento passi, I (2000)

The book is available as a paperback on both the co.uk and the com Amazon websites, not the film. However the film is available to buy from http://www.ibs.it/ which is an online Italian bookshop.

[Cat Bauer]

Thanks, Sally, for that info. You see how easy it is to make a film disappear? It's also easy to make books disappear.

I can barely remember Gommarah, and I just saw it. I don't remember the details of I Cento Passi, but I remember the great emotion I felt when I watched it.

[Angie and Robert]

Cat, this is a film question for you. many years ago, possibly over 50 I saw an Italian film, in Italian, about a small boy who went to pray at the tomb of St Francis for the health of his I think donkey. As I say many years ago and the details are hazy, any ideas?. I still sort of remember it, sorry to be vague.
A

[Sally Donaldson]

Angie, could it be called 'The Flowers Of St Francis"which came out in 1950 but maybe not having read this - Old School Reviews: Roberto Rossellini, Flowers of St. Francis (Francesco, giullare de Dio)

Ah this is the one - "Never Take No for an Answer" (1952) - http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/revi...B2668389649EDE

[Cat Bauer]

Angie, I hope I didn't give the impression that I am an expert on Italian films, because I certainly am not. Sally seems to know much more about it that I do:). I am only voicing my opinion about particular movies that I have seen.

[Sally Donaldson]

Cat, I don't honestly. I merely put in a few words into Yahoo and found that movie for Angie. It may not be the one!!! lol.