printer friendly - 2007 - Lavazza Italian Film Festival

It’s a colourful summer in the ‘80s,
Luca (Nicolas Vaporidis) and his
friends prepare for the dreaded
maturità (high school graduation)
exams, with all the troubles, emotions,
mishaps and delights that typically
afflict teenagers at this stressful time.
At a party, Luca falls in love with an
extroverted yet mysterious girl, Claudia
(Cristiana Capotondi). He only knows
her name and has no clue about her
family... Meanwhile, Luca is desperately
trying to get back in favour with his
literature teacher (Giorgio Faletti), who
will be the teacher sitting in on his oral
exams…
First-time director Fausto Brizzi
worked from his original screenplay
to pay a heart-felt homage to the
‘80s with this ensemble comedy
that involves several generations
simultaneously: today’s youth, but
also those who were young in the
‘80s and in the ‘60s. The bright young
cast gives the fast-moving screenplay
sparkle, and the film soared to the top
of the charts immediately upon its
release, becoming one of the biggest
blockbusters ever at the Italian box
office.
THE NIGHT BEFORE FINALS, which
takes its title from a famous song
by Antonello Venditti, is a delight
for youthful audiences, and is also a
tremendously entertaining trip down
memory lane for thirty and fortysomethings,
who will remember the
bizarre TV shows of the time, and
favourite tunes from Queen and Duran
Duran!
THE NIGHT BEFORE EXAMS
NOTTE PRIMA DEGLI ESAMI
Director: Fausto Brizzi
Cast: Nicolas Vaporidis,
Cristiana Capotondi,
Giorgio Faletti,
Andrea De Rosa,
Sarah Maestri,
Riccardo Minggio,
Valeria Fabrizi.
Runtime: 108 mins
NIGHT BUS
NOTTURNO BUS
Director: Davide Marengo
Cast: Giovanna Mezzogiorno,
Valerio Mastandrea,
Ennio Fantastichini,
Anna Romantowska,
Roberto Citran,
Francesco Pannofino,
Ivan Franek,
Antonio Catania,
Iaia Forte.
Runtime: 105 mins
Simultaneously a noir and a
romantic comedy, an action film
and a thriller with moments of
pulp, Davide Marengo’s NIGHT
BUS, based on the eponymous
novel by Giampiero Rigosi, is a
true mix of genres “all’italiana”.
A host of shady characters are
after a microchip containing
incriminating evidence against a
bigwig in Poland. Carlo Matera
(Ennio Fantastichini) is the exsecret
serviceman hired to retrieve
it, but the fortune he’s been
given to buy it back gets into
the hands of ruthless nightclub
proprietor Andrea (Ivan Franek).
Small-time player Leila (Giovanna
Mezzogiorno) cons the conman,
not realizing the stash he’s got
until after she’s run off with the
briefcase.
Mezzogiorno is undoubtedly the
soul of the picture, switching
identities and stories while
enjoying the thrill of the chase.
Winner of the David Di Donatello
Award 2007 for Best Original
Song.
Winner of the David Di Donatello
Award 2006 for Best New Director.
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Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2007
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au 15