Interview with filmmaker Parvin Ansary

Don't miss part two of the interview with Parvin Ansary

Trash Comedy and Sexy Comedies: 70's and 80's

I believe that Italian movies are essential to understanding Life in Italy. La commedia all' Italiana shows best of Italy, always with a touch of irony.

Italian movie titles on DVD are too many to keep track without a database. However here is just a small sample of some of the best known Italian movies on DVD

The Best Italian Movies, and Best Italian Comedies:

Most people consider as Italian movies only films like 'Ladri di biciclette' ( Bicycle Thieves)  or 'The garden of the Finzi Contini', 'La dolce vita'  as well as movies from the Taviani Brothers, Visconti, Antonioni and of course  Fellini. These are movies that only few Italians actually end up watching - While most Italians will not have any idea of who Visconti is, they all will know Sordi, Manfredi, Verdone, Gasmann, Pieraccioni, etc...

Italian Backdrop: Films Set in Italy

From "Roman Holiday" to "The Merchant of Venice"

Few places can match Italy for natural beauty. While Italy's countryside exudes charm, Italian city's show off their distinctive culture reflective in architecture or even the people themselves. Many successful films have been set in various areas of Italy making the country not only important to the setting but also the plot. To see many aspects of the Italian landscape and culture, consider watching these very fine films.

A Day at the Rome Film Festival 2007

Red flags flapping in cold October wind and soldier-like lines of huge red panels lead to the long red carpet that shows celebrities the way into the Auditorium Music Park for the Rome Film Fest 2008.

The 'big whales' built by architect Renzo Piano open their mouths for Tom Cruise, Monica Bellucci, Kate Blanchett, Robert, Redford, Gerard Depardieu, Francis Coppola, Robin Williams, Sophia Loren, Jane Fonda and many other movie stars and movie people.