Columns

The world lost a legendary actor in June when Donald Sutherland passed away at the age of 88. The New York Times called him “a Chameleon of a Movie Star” and mentioned many of the iconic characters he portrayed in an extraordinary career that spanned seven decades. Among them were a few unforgettable roles in films directed by Italians or made in Italy. In 1976, Sutherland appeared in two films by equally legendary filmmakers Federico Fellini and Bernardo Bertolucci. He portrayed the title role in “Fellini’s Casanova,” taking on the larger-than-life character Giacomo Casanova, described as “a man who never …

For many Italian Americans, the dream of returning to their ancestral homeland lingers. But tax concerns can often be a major deterrent. Those concerns might be overcome by the extension of the so-called New Inpatriate Tax Regime. Although there are some aspects that are less favorable than the previous special tax regime, the new regime applicable as of January 1, 2024, still has some interesting perks to offer. The new program is designed to attract highly skilled professionals back to Italy by offering significant tax breaks and making relocating and working in Italy a more financially attractive proposition than ever …

  Say “I’ll take care of it” in Italian with Subject – Verb Inversion Certain situations may require clarification of an individual’s responsibility to family members, friends, or co-workers. This leads to common phrases used on a daily basis. For instance, “I’ll take care of it,” can be rendered in Italian by a unique sentence structure using a verb of action and also with the reflexive verb occuparsi. When in Italy, a simple way to emphasize that you will take responsibility for an action is to make a short statement and place the subject pronoun after the verb; in effect, …

After more than three decades of Italian research, I thought I knew it all. Actually, I know I don’t — know it all — but I also don’t spend a lot of time looking again at the same records I have already reviewed and set to rest. Recently I saw a YouTube interview by Bob Sorrentino on his “Italian Roots and Genealogy” channel. I was interviewed for this channel about a year ago on the topic of “Researching Triggiano to Chicago.” A number of notable Chicagoans like Dominic Candeloro and Carla Simonini have also been on this channel. But a …

At this time of year, my thoughts begin to focus on what I have done this summer and what I’ve yet to do. I also look back at the summers of years gone and some of the more memorable events from those happy days. There were Roseland’s July Sidewalk Sale, St. Anthony’s Carnival and St. Willibrord’s Carnival and Talent Show, and more recently the joining of Roseland’s Catholic parishes, culminating with the merging of Holy Rosary with St. Anthony’s. Hopefully, my memories will kickstart yours to help you recall highlights of your Roseland summers. Being a teenager in Roseland provided …

Known for her striking resemblance to Anna Magnani, Neapolitan actress Lucianna De Falco has ignited the imagination of modern Italian filmmakers who have played on the similarities, allowing her to interpret the style of a cinema icon. “The physical resemblance to Anna Magnani has been a constant, especially at the beginning of my career, and I was scared of it,” said De Falco in a 2019 interview with Fra Noi. “Then I started working, and about 10 years ago, I finally played her in a short film where Magnani and Bette Davis meet, titled “The Big Lie.” I won several …

The Irish Dominican nuns at St. Rita’s in the South Bronx were tough, even the pretty ones. After Sr. Catherine Michael would finish speaking with a parent at our first-grade classroom door, her broad lovely smile darkened into a scowl as she turned to face us. We had inevitably been chattering behind her back, and she immediately rearmed herself with the pointer or yardstick she had left on her desk. Richie, my first friend in school, had a markedly oblong head and would tremble with excitement in anticipation of fun, such as when we played Americans against Germans in the …

Italy recently passed the Salva Casa (Save the Home) decree, a legislative package with the potential to revitalize the country’s housing market. The decree tackles a surprising hurdle: A large portion of Italian homes (estimates suggest up to 80%) have minor irregularities or deviations from building codes. These often insignificant irregularities, like an unpermitted balcony enclosure or a slightly misplaced internal wall, can significantly complicate selling a home, obtaining financing or accessing government assistance. The decree seeks to streamline the process of rectifying these minor issues. This could involve a simplified amnesty program where homeowners pay a penalty based on …

The Italian government has issued the final piece of legislation necessary to implement the Digital Nomad Visa, a game-changing instrument for highly skilled workers from outside the European Union. With the Decree of the Ministry of the Interior dated Feb. 29, 2024, published in the Official Gazette on April 4, 2024, it is now possible for non-EU citizens to apply to work and live in Italy without falling under the complex maximum quota legislation. The visa is aimed at non-EU nationals who perform highly qualified work using technological tools that allow them to work remotely. They can either be self-employed …

In her own unobtrusive way, Mom had long been preparing me for school. In a letter my grandfather wrote her from Italy when I was four and a half, he was glad to hear I spent entire days “writing.” He was referring to my filling a sheet of paper with rows of little vertical lines in imitation of the lines my mother had made on the page. Now, a year and a half later, while she was reading her weekly letter from her father, I asked her whether it was hard to learn how to read. “No, it’s not hard, …