Italian cinema is renowned for its impeccable sense of style. Be it music, fashion, food or acting, the Italians have a way of making moving images with a serious touch of stylistic flair.
Here, we highlight some of the movies with the most sensational architecture and interiors coming to the 2021 Studio Italia – Italian Film Festival.
I am Love
According to the Festival’s director Paolo Rotondo, I am Love is “filmed entirely on location at Villa Necchi, a Piero Portaluppi designed home. The two storey ocher mansion owned by the Yoox founder Federico Marchetti is on the shores of Lago do Como.” The 1935, sprawling villa was designed with opulent socialising in mind and serves as a perfect backdrop to this stunningly made story of love and crumbing aristocratic families.
The Leopard
Directed by the incomparable auteur Luchino Visconti this film has a 45 minute ball scene which takes place inside the Palazzo Valguarnera, a sumptuous palace in Palermo, Italy.
Fans of 18th Century interiors and Baroque architecture will want to experience this on the big screen.
The Goddess of Fortune
The architectural meccas of Rome and Sicily serve as expansive sets to this contemporary, heart-warming melodrama about a couple who must welcome two children into their home.
The Handyman
A comedy of errors in which a young lawyer is asked to marry his boss’ lover in order for her to gain citizenship doesn’t exactly sound like architectural fodder. Yet we are told scenes of a contemporary, Roman apartment, courtrooms and institutional buildings, are worth the trip for any design aficionado.
The Studio Italia – Italian Film Festival plays across New Zealand from June. For details visit cinemaitalianonz.com
