Cinema Italiano

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Cinema Italiano is the first podcast dedicated to Italian film. In each episode, we discuss a specific film or topic, and explore how it ties back to Italian geography, heritage, and culture. In this series, we’ll bring in guests to discuss classic Italian cinema, lesser known gems, and share our f…

Steven Johnson


    • Jan 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 77 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Cinema Italiano

    #50: Interview with Gabriele Fabbro (Trifole)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025


    Conversation with director Gabriele Fabbro on his film "Trifole," following its international premiere. The post #50: Interview with Gabriele Fabbro (Trifole) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #49: Interview with Maura Delpero (Vermiglio)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024


    Conversation with director Maura Delpero on her film "Vermiglio." The post #49: Interview with Maura Delpero (Vermiglio) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #48: Interview with Valeria Golino (The Art of Joy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024


    Conversation with director Valeria Golino on "The Art of Joy." The post #48: Interview with Valeria Golino (The Art of Joy) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #47: Under the Riccione Sun (2020)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024


    The romantic escapades of a group of college-age friends at a beach club along the Adriatic Sea. The post #47: Under the Riccione Sun (2020) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #46: The 69th Annual David di Donatello Award Winners & Nominees

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024


    Recapping the winners and nominees from the 69th annual David di Donatello awards. The post #46: The 69th Annual David di Donatello Award Winners & Nominees first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #45: Happy as Lazzaro (Alice Rohrwacher, 2018)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024


    Set in central Italy, a young man navigates worlds both agrarian and metropolitan, past and future, just out of place in any setting. The post #45: Happy as Lazzaro (Alice Rohrwacher, 2018) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #44: Io capitano (Matteo Garrone, 2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024


    Two Senegalese teenagers set out for a new life in Italy in this modern-day Odyssey, framing the immigrant experience as a classical yet contemporary epic. The post #44: Io capitano (Matteo Garrone, 2023) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #43: The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024


    Recap on the Italian films featured: "Io capitano," "La chimera," and "Kidnapped." The post #43: The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #42: The 59th Chicago International Film Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023


    Recap of the Italian films featured at the festival, including reviews of "Kidnapped" and "The Beautiful Summer." The post #42: The 59th Chicago International Film Festival first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #41: The Eight Mountains (Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch, 2022)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023


    An epic, emotional story of a lifelong friendship between two men, one from the city and one from the mountains. The post #41: The Eight Mountains (Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch, 2022) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    mountains felix van groeningen eight mountains charlotte vandermeersch
    #40: The 49th Annual Seattle International Film Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2023


    Recap & reviews of the Italian films featured at the festival, including "The Hummingbird" and "L'immensita'." The post #40: The 49th Annual Seattle International Film Festival first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #39: Naples in Veils (Ferzan Özpetek, 2017)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023


    The past is ever-present when a medical examiner is caught in the middle of a murder mystery. The post #39: Naples in Veils (Ferzan Özpetek, 2017) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #38: The Son’s Room (Nanni Moretti, 2001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023


    This moving drama explores a happy family shifting from a singular unit to separate individuals. The post #38: The Son's Room (Nanni Moretti, 2001) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #37: Le pupille (Alice Rohrwacher, 2022)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2023


    An all-girls school is shaken by the prospect of a beautiful cake - an extravagant, tempting indulgence in an era of rationing and sacrifice. The post #37: Le pupille (Alice Rohrwacher, 2022) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #36: The 34th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023


    Quick recap on the Italian films featured at the festival, including "Nostalgia" and "Freaks Out." The post #36: The 34th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #36: The 34th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023


    Quick recap on the Italian films featured at the festival, including "Nostalgia" and "Freaks Out."

    #35: Martin Eden (Pietro Marcello, 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022


    Pietro Marcello brings Jack London's Oakland-set novel to Naples in his innovative adaptation.

    #35: Martin Eden (Pietro Marcello, 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022


    Pietro Marcello brings Jack London's Oakland-set novel to Naples in his innovative adaptation. The post #35: Martin Eden (Pietro Marcello, 2019) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #34: Blood and Black Lace (Mario Bava, 1964)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022


    A Roman fashion house is terrorized by a faceless killer in this endlessly stylish, thrilling midcentury mystery.

    #34: Blood and Black Lace (Mario Bava, 1964)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022


    A Roman fashion house is terrorized by a faceless killer in this endlessly stylish, thrilling midcentury mystery. The post #34: Blood and Black Lace (Mario Bava, 1964) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    #33: I Am Love (Luca Guadagnino, 2009)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022


    A married Russian-Italian mother finds a new passion for life when she meets a younger chef. The post #33: I Am Love (Luca Guadagnino, 2009) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #33: I Am Love (Luca Guadagnino, 2009)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022


    A married Russian-Italian mother finds a new passion for life when she meets a younger chef.

    #32: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica, 1963)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022


    Vittorio De Sica explores Italian romance past, present, and future in his award-winning film starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. The post #32: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica, 1963) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #32: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica, 1963)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022


    Vittorio De Sica explores Italian romance past, present, and future in his award-winning film starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.

    #31: The Wonders (Alice Rohrwacher, 2014)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022


    A struggling family of bee farmers get the chance to represent their way of life on a TV competition show. The post #31: The Wonders (Alice Rohrwacher, 2014) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #31: The Wonders (Alice Rohrwacher, 2014)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022


    A struggling family of bee farmers get the chance to represent their way of life on a TV competition show.

    #30: Stromboli (Roberto Rossellini, 1950)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022


    Ingrid Bergman experiences the land of God in Roberto Rossellini's 1950 film. The post #30: Stromboli (Roberto Rossellini, 1950) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #30: Stromboli (Roberto Rossellini, 1950)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022


    Ingrid Bergman experiences the land of God in Roberto Rossellini's 1950 film.

    #29: La terra trema (Luchino Visconti, 1948)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022


    Luchino Visconti's second film follows a Sicilian fishing family who strives to rise up out of poverty, but face hardships at every turn. The post #29: La terra trema (Luchino Visconti, 1948) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #29: La terra trema (Luchino Visconti, 1948)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022


    Luchino Visconti's second film follows a Sicilian fishing family who strives to rise up out of poverty, but face hardships at every turn.

    #28: Two Sicilian Love Stories by Pietro Germi

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022


    Pietro Germi goes to Sicily with "Divorce Italian Style" and "Seduced and Abandoned," critiquing law & society against the backdrop of decaying aristocracy and the rise of the mafia. The post #28: Two Sicilian Love Stories by Pietro Germi first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #28: Two Sicilian Love Stories by Pietro Germi

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022


    Pietro Germi goes to Sicily with "Divorce Italian Style" and "Seduced and Abandoned," critiquing law & society against the backdrop of decaying aristocracy and the rise of the mafia.

    #27: The Hand of God (Paolo Sorrentino, 2021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022


    "The Hand of God" is a semi-autobiographical tale a young man in Naples whose life is transformed when a terrible tragedy pushes him from an idyllic childhood to somber adulthood. The post #27: The Hand of God (Paolo Sorrentino, 2021) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #27: The Hand of God (Paolo Sorrentino, 2021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022


    "The Hand of God" is a semi-autobiographical tale a young man in Naples whose life is transformed when a terrible tragedy pushes him from an idyllic childhood to somber adulthood.

    #26: The Great Beauty (Paolo Sorrentino, 2013)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021


    This sprawling work examines Roman high society, as well as broader themes of artistry, beauty, and experiences both individual and collective. The post #26: The Great Beauty (Paolo Sorrentino, 2013) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #26: The Great Beauty (Paolo Sorrentino, 2013)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021


    This sprawling work examines Roman high society, as well as broader themes of artistry, beauty, and experiences both individual and collective.

    #25: I vitelloni (Federico Fellini, 1953) & I basilischi (Lina Wertmüller, 1963)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021


    Discussing two tales of young men, directionless and in limbo, and exploring their thematic similarities & differences. The post #25: I vitelloni (Federico Fellini, 1953) & I basilischi (Lina Wertmüller, 1963) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #25: I vitelloni (Federico Fellini, 1953) & I basilischi (Lina Wertmüller, 1963)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021


    Discussing two tales of young men, directionless and in limbo, and exploring their thematic similarities & differences.

    #24: Domenica d’agosto (Luciano Emmer, 1950)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021


    Discussing this example of "pink neorealism" as well as its themes of class, regionalism, and more. The post #24: Domenica d'agosto (Luciano Emmer, 1950) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #24: Domenica d’agosto (Luciano Emmer, 1950)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021


    Discussing this example of "pink neorealism" as well as its themes of class, regionalism, and more.

    #23: Luca (Enrico Casarosa, 2021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2021


    "Luca" has rich overtones of a coming out story dealing with identity and acceptance, as well as numerous references to Italian culture, music, and more cinema italiano. The post #23: Luca (Enrico Casarosa, 2021) first appeared on Cinema Italiano Podcast.

    Episode #23: Luca (Enrico Casarosa, 2021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2021


    "Luca" has rich overtones of a coming out story dealing with identity and acceptance, as well as numerous references to Italian culture, music, and more cinema italiano.

    Episode #22: Human Capital (Paolo Virzì, 2013)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021


    Class, wealth, and power are at the forefront of Paolo Virzì's award-winning drama.

    Episode #21: The Passionate Thief (Mario Monicelli, 1960)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021


    Mario Monicelli's New Year's Eve-set comedy surfaces generational divides, power dynamics, and deception.

    Episode #20: The Best of 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021


    Counting down the top 5 Italian films of 2020.

    Episode #19: Cinema Italian Style 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020


    Notturno, Padrenostro, Lacci (The Ties), and more!

    Episode #18: The Early Films of Pietro Marcello

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2020


    An exploration of Pietro Marcello's first four features: Crossing the Line (2007), The Mouth of the Wolf (2009), The Silence of Pelesjan (2011), and Lost and Beautiful (2015).

    Episode #17: Caro diario (Nanni Moretti, 1993)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020


    This episode discusses Nanni Moretti’s Caro diario (Dear Diary), an introspective autobiographical look at three phases of Moretti’s life. This story… Read more Episode #17: Caro diario (Nanni Moretti, 1993)

    Episode #16: Tommaso (Abel Ferrara, 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2020


    This episode explores Abel Ferrara’s Tommaso, a semi-autobiographical tale of an American filmmaker living in Rome with his wife and daughter.… Read more Episode #16: Tommaso (Abel Ferrara, 2019)

    Episode #15: L’Innocente (Luchino Visconti, 1976)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2020


    This episode features an audio essay on Luchino Visconti’s final film L’Innocente (The Innocent), discussing the film’s themes of dishonesty, self-interest,… Read more Episode #15: L’Innocente (Luchino Visconti, 1976)

    Episode #14: Corpo celeste (Alice Rohrwacher, 2011)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2020


    This episode features an audio essay on Alice Rohrwacher’s debut fiction feature Corpo celeste (Heavenly Body), a modern-day take on Marta… Read more Episode #14: Corpo celeste (Alice Rohrwacher, 2011)

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