SCREENING OF THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS

ITALIAN FILMS TODAY

SCREENING OF THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS

by Vittorio De Sica

Monday, June 8^th 2009

5:30 pm

Italian Cultural Institute

500 North Michigan Ave, Suite 1450

Tel: 1-312-822-9545

Fax: 1-312-822-9622

E-mail: iicchicago@esteri.it

As a part of “Italian Film Today” series that highlights the theme “Film and Literature”, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago is pleased to present: THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS, a film directed by Vittorio De Sica (1971).

Starring: Dominique Sanda, Lino Capolicchio, Helmut Berger, Fabio Testi.

“Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini” is based on a book by Giorgio Bassani. It takes place in Ferrara at the beginning of WWII, when anti-Semitism was spreading and Mussolini was passing several laws that forbade Jews from going to public schools, joining the army, or marrying non-Jews. While many middle-class Jewish families fled the country, the Finzi-Continis believed it was safe inside their sprawling estate.

As a wealthy, aristocratic family, they thought their luxurious garden walls would protect them from Fascism. Micol Finzi-Contini and her brother invited their Jewish friends to join them in the estate for parties, tennis, and games while the war ravaged on. Middle-class Giorgio attended the parties with his friend Malnate. Giorgio and Micol were childhood sweethearts, but she began to reject him in favor of Malnate. She also refused to accept that there was a war going on. Eventually the Finzi-Contini could not pretend any longer, and the war closed in on them.

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1971 and was nominated for Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. It also won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

The film will be presented in Italian by Prof. Paola Morgavi, Northwestern University.

The screening will be in Italian with English subtitles. (DVD, 94 MIN)

Please call (312) 822-9545 x 198 to R.S.V.P.

The Italian Cultural Institute strives to promote the finest Italian cinema, while offering a taste of contemporary productions, exploring also less familiar paths. With this aim in mind, the Institute has created Italian Films Today, a monthly appointment dedicated to the most recent productions, offering to the Chicago public an occasion to reflect different aspects of Italian contemporary society. Details on upcoming films will be announced shortly.

Istituto Italiano di Cultura

Italian Government Cultural Institute

500 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450

Chicago, IL 60611

312-822-9545