Students Attend 2024 Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival

Student Paloma Martins provided this first-person report on the experience of attending the Nuovo Cinema Italiano Festival with other Meredith students.

During the bustling final weeks of the fall semester, from November 14 to 17, a group of eight students from Meredith College had the opportunity to attend the Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. This annual event, which has been celebrated for 18 years, showcases significant contemporary Italian cinema and is organized every year by Dr. Giovanna de Luca from the College of Charleston. 

This field trip is planned every year by Professor Sandra Pesoli. It is open to all students but is particularly interesting for those studying Italian or who have participated in the Study Abroad program in Sansepolcro and seek to deepen their understanding of Italian culture. 

Upon arrival on Friday, we were excited to watch several films. I watched La Chimera, a highly rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes that unfolds a complex narrative set in the 1980s. The film follows a group of friends, including an English archaeologist, who profits from looting Etruscan tombs and selling its treasures. This thought-provoking film stands apart from mainstream offerings, encouraging viewers to reflect on its themes. In my point of view, it explores the eternal quest for the “chimera,” which varies in meaning for each character—some seek reunion with lost loved ones in the afterlife, while others pursue wealth, love, and long-lasting friendship and support. Additionally, I believe it also critiques ongoing issues related to historical sites in Italy and the black market for archaeological artifacts.

The second film I watched was Milano: The Inside Story of Italian Fashion, directed by John Maggio. We were fortunate to meet Maggio during one of the festival’s Q&A sessions. This documentary examines the historical shift of fashion, making Italy another place to be looked at, sharing the podium with France, when the subject is fashion, highlighting how many Italian luxury brands began as small family businesses that eventually flourished. It also detailed the challenges faced by these luxury brands in achieving success while remaining at the forefront of fashion. A curiosity revealed in the documentary is that Italian fashion gained significant recognition following the release of American Gigolo in the 1980s, which prominently featured Giorgio Armani’s newly established style for men, moving away from baggy work attire. The documentary includes insights from notable figures such as Helen Mirren, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Santo Versace, and Stefano Gabbana. 

At the Q&A session, we also had the opportunity to meet Mauro Conte, an Italian actor who starred in Terezín, a movie based on a true story, which focused on enlightening the role played by Jewish musicians during World War II having music as ways to survive the Holocaust. 

Beyond film screenings, we enjoyed a fashion show on Saturday night featuring American Italian stylists who dressed the Charleston College soccer team with their beautiful designs focused on male fashion. This event was complemented by charcuterie boards, Italian delicacies, and wines. 

Throughout our three days at the festival, we also had the freedom to explore Charleston’s beautiful sights in between movies and events we were expected to attend. We were there in two different cars, so we ended up dividing and conquering different locations. We visited scenic locations including the bay and the famous Rainbow Row and the varied architectonic history of this city, walked in beautiful alleyways, admired many art galleries showcasing brilliant local artists, browsed antique stores, and dined at excellent restaurants. One highlight was a rooftop venue that offered stunning views of the city as a backdrop, the perfect scenery to end a day full of long walks and movie-watching at a breezy sunset on a Friday night! 

Summarizing the whole experience, the Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival provided us with a unique opportunity to engage with Italian culture beyond the classroom, allowing attendees to explore art, fashion, history, and contemporary storytelling. Participants practiced their Italian language skills, connected with fellow students, heard from international artists, had networking opportunities, and gained fresh perspectives on Italian culture, making it an enriching experience that deepened their appreciation for Italy’s artistic and cultural landscape.