(3.11) For years Brown University Italian Studies professors have been bringing students to Bologna for Il Cinema Ritrovato — or Cinema Rediscovered — a nine-day festival dedicated to rare and historic film. This year Professor Massimo Riva decided to run a four-day version of the festival at the Granoff Center.
Thursday, 7pm — Four short films, three of which are silent, will be screened on Thursday. According to the Providence Journal,
“Thursday is a special night,” said Riva. “Not only will Guy Borlée from the Cineteca of Bologna be there to introduce the films, but we will also have live music performed along with the silent movies.”
Film music composer Donald Sosin and singer Joanna Seaton will provide accompaniment to the screenings. They have chosen period music to play with the films, like moviegoers would have experienced at the time.
Friday, 7pm — “Memories of Underdevelopment,” a film done in Cuba in 1968, after the revolution.
Saturday, 4pm — “Once Upon a Time in America,” directed by Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods.
And gelato!
Before each show, and during the intermission on Saturday, gelato will be served to festival-goers. The Italian treat will be made by Giovanni Figliomeni, owner of Il Gelatauro in Bologna, who uses historic, pre-1912 recipes.
Go to the ProJo article for more on Mr. Figliomeni — charming story. Seen here is “Satan’s Rhapsody.”
Free and open to the public, festival runs through March 11, Granoff Center, 154 Angell Street, (directions)