Movies

Film review and a chat with the filmmaker: 'In the Middle' by Greg Cruttwell

In this blog, I’ll review In the Middle and report about a chat with film director Greg Cruttwell.  A ‘footie film’ may not fill you with enthusiasm, you’re thinking ‘under-dogs pull their fingers out and bag the cup’ type scenario. But this is different, it’s … charming? It’s a documentary, clearly made with love; love for the people interviewed and for the game. A love I do…
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Movies

Film review: Dry by Paolo Virzì starring Tommaso Ragno and Monica Bellucci 

The film Dry by Paolo Virzì had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival (on 8 September 2022) and was first theatrically released in Italy on 29 September 2022. It has finally reached Britain too available with English subtitles. I recently caught up with Dry‘s star Tommaso Ragno at Cinema Made in Italy festival and will soon report on our chat about life, the world…
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Movies

Why was ‘Elvis’ snubbed by Oscars?

The Academy Awards aka the Oscars  are the most prestigious award ceremony for the film industry. Each year, the ceremony recognises the best films, actors, and filmmakers of the year.  In 2022, a highly anticipated film about the life of Elvis Presley hit theatres worldwide. Titled simply “Elvis“, the movie was a stunning tribute to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, exploring his life and…
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Cultur-Italy EzineTravel with kids

Exploring Italy with kids: A family-friendly guide to Italy's best destinations

Italy is one of Europe’s most compelling destinations and it also happens to be one of the best places in the world to explore with kids. With its picture-perfect beaches, some of the world’s best food, and more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country, it’s easy to see why Italy is so appealing to kids. Enjoy London Mums‘ family-friendly guide to Italy’s best…
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Movies

Film review: Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is rip-roaring, visually stunning, funny and well-acted. It is released in UK cinemas today. The story The Ancient Greek Gods are fed up being locked up in some decaying old world stripped of their powers, a punishment for taking things too far millennia ago. So they recover the old must-have accessories from our museums, get them mended and recharged, then fall out…
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Movies

Film review: The Bone Breakers by Vincenzo Pirrotta

The Bone Breakers is a gripping and intense Italian movie directed and acted by Vincenzo Pirrotta, who in recent months has reached international fame thanks to his sidekick role to Luigi Lo Cascio in The Bad Guy. Inspired by true events, The Bone Breakers revolves around an amateur criminal organisation in Palermo that fractures the limbs of its willing victims before staging fake accidents to…
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Movies

Film review: The Lord of the Ants by Gianni Amelio starring Luigi Lo Cascio and Elio Germano 

Gianni Amelio‘s film The Lord of the Ants is a poignant and emotionally charged drama based on the true story of Aldo Braibanti, an Italian poet, expert in myrmecology (the science of ants), philosopher and playwright, who was imprisoned in 1968 due to a crime called ‘plagio’, a sort of brainwashing that was removed from the list of crimes two years later. Inherently he was jailed, because…
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Movies

Documentary review: The March on Rome by Mark Cousins

The March on Rome, directed by Mark Cousins, is a documentary that delves into the history of fascism in Italy and the events that led up to Mussolini’s infamous March on Rome. The essay film is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of a pivotal moment in Italian history. Cinema Made in Italy festival at Cine Lumiere in London  hosted a premiere today. The documentary begins with an…
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Movies

Film review: Ghost Night starring Edoardo Pesce 

As part of the Cinema Made in Italy festival hosted at Cine Lumiere in South Kensington I met popular Italian actor Edoardo Pesce. His latest flick Ghost Night is a thrilling and suspenseful buddy movie directed by Fulvio Risuleo in 2022. The film is set in Rome. It starts following a 17-year-old boy named Tarek, who is on his way to see his friends. His friends ask him to buy a few grams of dope…
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Cultur-Italy EzineMovies

Film review: The Hummingbird by Francesca Archibugi starring Pierfrancesco Favino

It was a real honour to meet Italian film director Francesca Archibugi last night at the UK premiere of her latest flick The Hummingbird (Il Colibrì in Italian), during the Cinema Made in Italy Festival. Archibugi is known for her meditative films “Vivere”, “Mignon Has come to stay” and “Tomorrow”.  The Hummingbird is a captivating adaptation of Sandro Veronesi’s eponymous novel.
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