A Celebration of Rai Cinema at MOMA
In only 15 years, Rai Cinema has emerged as an essential component of the Italian film industry. The organization, headed by Nicola Claudio, produces an assortment of films and documentaries each year, some of which have been chosen as part of the Museum of Modern Art’s celebration of Italian Film, 21st Century Style: A Tribute to Rai Cinema. The event is described on the MoMA website with reverence for Rai Cinema and a bright outlook for the future of Italian Cinema:
“Cinephiles often speak about Italian cinema with great nostalgia for past eras. The fact is, contemporary filmmakers working in Italy are making some of the most impactful, resonant, and awarded movies of this new century. At the heart of many of these films is one studio, Rai Cinema. Celebrating many decades of support for visionary directors, the Rai Cinema catalog is filled with essential titles past and present.”
The films selected range from the year 2000 to 2015 and will each be viewed twice between December 4th and December 18th. Il Racconto dei racconti (Tale of Tales) is a new film, just made in 2015, that is part of MOMA’s collection for the event. Notes from the Cannes Film Festival describe the film as a fairy tale revolving around three different kingdoms, each with its own kings, queens, princes and princesses. But there are also sorcerers, fairies, ogres, acrobats and courtesans. The film is loosely interpreted from the celebrated tales of Giambattista Basile, a Neapolitan poet who the Grimm Brothers later praised for writing the first national collection of fairy tales.
But films quite opposite of fairy tales also hold important places in the celebration. Matteo Garrone’s interpretation of Roberto Saviano’s book Gomorrah narrates five stories together that communicate the realities of living in the regions of Naples and Caserta, where the mafia organization Camorra controls pretty much everything. The film won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008.
La stanza del figlio (The Son’s Room), a 2001 production by Nanni Moretti, details the strained relationship between a teenage boy and his father, but otherwise close-knit family dynamic. To connect with his son, the father suggests they go for runs together, but the father has to cancel their plans because one of his patients urgently needs attention. Andrea instead goes scuba diving with his friends, but he doesn’t make it back to the surface in time and dies. The film shows the effects on the family after the son’s death, and the regret that Giovanni struggles to overcome for not reconciling with his son before his death. It won the Palme D’Or award at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
Rai Cinema captures a wide variety of cinematic wonders and has maintained high standards of artistic quality since its founding in 2000. The Museum of Modern Art celebration of Rai Cinema begins in just two days and includes viewings of Il Racconto dei racconti (Tale of Tales), Il Mestiere delle armi (The Profession of Arms), La Stanza del figlio (The Son’s Room), Buongiorno, notte (Good Morning, Night), Le Chiavi di casa (The keys to the house), Gomorra, Terraferma (Mainland), Sacro GRA, and Le Meraviglie (The Wonders). A lecture/discussion panel is being held for the film Cesare deve morire (Caesar must die).
Rai Cinema recently celebrated its 15th birthday, and CEO Paulo del Brocco took the opportunity to thank the world of Italian Cinema and everyone whom they have shared their journey with. He also spoke of Rai Cinema’s achievements, their 580 films within many different genres and languages. “We have also contributed to the growth of the entire film industry, getting the audience close to Italian cinema again. During this 15 years of our history, all of Italian cinema has grown in quantity and quality of production, reaching a market share of about 30%. A very positive result at the same time, however, a new challenge for the future.”
The revival of Italian Cinema seems to be upon us, and the MOMA celebration showcases not only Rai Cinema’s success, but also the future success of upcoming Italian directors and film contributors.
Marisa Wherry
