Columns

In June, Film at Lincoln Center and Cinecittà presented “History, Italian Style,” a film series tracing Italy’s rich and complex past through an exceptional lineup of more than 30 epic classic and contemporary films. The series, which followed the 25th anniversary of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, featured masterworks by directors including Luchino Visconti, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Federico Fellini, alongside contemporary voices like Mario Martone and Alice Rohrwacher. Audiences had the opportunity to experience historical moments, from the Risorgimento and Belle Époque to the Fascist era and its aftermath. The series opened with Bertolucci’s “Novecento,” presented in a newly restored …

For many Italian Americans, Italian citizenship by descent has long represented more than a legal status. It has often been seen as a way to reconnect with family history, preserve an Italian identity across generations, and formalize a bond with the country of origin of parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. After the 2025 reform, however, the legal landscape has changed significantly. Italian citizenship by descent has not disappeared, but it is no longer an almost automatic consequence of having a remote Italian ancestor who retained Italian citizenship when the first American generation was born. The key recent development is the long-awaited …

Two cars came to meet us at the seaport of Naples in July 1960, manned by my uncles Zi’ Federico and Zi’ Mario, and with my four grandparents as passengers. I limped along in the blazing sunshine behind my parents, great-uncle Ernie, and little Maria, since my stitched left shin had just taken a nasty shot from a fellow arrival’s suitcase. When we all met in the parking lot, there were hugs, moist kisses, tears, clasped hands, laughter, a tip to the porter and a windstorm of shouted questions in Italian: “How are you? Did you get seasick?” “What’s the …

The 25th anniversary edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema is upon us, and it’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century has gone by since the first edition in 2001. This year’s lineup features 15 films that exemplify the richness and diversity of contemporary Italian cinema, from young filmmakers to veterans, from comedies to dramas to documentaries. “It’s always a pleasure to bring the most exciting new films in Italian cinema to our audience here in New York, and this year’s edition of Open Roads should prove especially stimulating, spotlighting some of Italy’s greatest up-and-coming talent, but …

There was a time when Sicily meant departure. Today, it is quietly becoming a place of return. Across the island, something is shifting. Not just in the lifestyle narratives that have long drawn foreigners to southern Italy, but in fiscal policy itself. In a move that is both symbolic and surprisingly concrete, the Sicilian regional government has introduced a new incentive designed to attract residents from abroad — including Italians who once left and are now considering coming back. The idea is simple and striking: Move to Sicily, and the region will refund up to half of your income tax. …

Summertime is here and there are plenty of options to keep you busy. The plan for this month’s column is to offer several opportunities to visit Roseland, Pullman and Kensington. The first thing that comes to mind since it is June, is the St. Anthony Festival on June 14. The end of the month is covered by the longstanding Annual Pullman Garden Club Tour. The next thing that comes to mind is the Taste of Chicago in the Pullman Neighborhood. The Pullman National Historical Park has a full schedule of offerings for the month of June. The Roseland pizza get …

At one time or another, we are all looking for something — a person we’d like to meet, a place we’d like to visit, or something we need.  In all these situations, we can use the verb cercare, which means “to look for.”  But it is possible to extract many other shades of meaning from this simple verb. Cercare can also mean “to ask for” or “to ask about” someone. We can add the phrase “di fare” to cercare when “trying to do” something.  The connection between the verb cercare and the idea of “trying” is probably derived from the …

One morning on our way to Italy in summer 1960, I was playing tag with a few friends on a largely deserted deck of the Saturnia. It had rained the night before, and the gray surface still glistened with dime-sized splats of moisture. Chasing one of the boys, I slipped and fell on my back, sliding fast toward the railing. With the ship’s heaving and my own momentum, I feared shooting into the sea beneath the lowest tier of the metal rail. Bending my knees, I came to a stop when my left shin slammed against a large bolt connecting …

When you’re at home researching your genealogy, or at a library or FamilySearch center, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. You’re indoors! When you want to visit someone at a cemetery, to say a prayer or to get some genealogy information about them, you’re mostly outside. In good ol’ Chicagoland, you have to plan your cemetery trips around the weather. Too much rain leads to soggy wet muddy ground. Too many leaves in the fall leads to flat stones covered and you can’t see them. Too much cold wind leads to freezing. Too much summer heat leads to …

With spring and summer upon us, I thought I’d write about Roseland’s Little League. However, once I got into researching my collection of Calumet Index Annuals, I realized that I’ve never written about these outstanding pieces of Roseland history. There were annual issues from 1964 to 1972 that covered specific topics. As a journalist I am always keeping track of sources for information. Of the nine issues that I believe existed, I’m only missing the 1967 and 1971 issues. The best part of each issue are all the dated ads, which display prices that are hard to believe considering the …