Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Film at Lincoln Center and Cinecittà presented an exceptional retrospective of Sophia Loren’s work in June. “Sophia Loren: La Signora di Napoli” showcased 13 films celebrating the extraordinary body of work of the legendary actress.
“I am very happy to promote this retrospective journey to celebrate Sophia Loren at Film at Lincoln Center,” Cinecittà Chiara Sbarigia said. “As we review the long gallery of unforgettable characters that she has portrayed, we give back to the audience a universal talent admired by diverse generations worldwide.
The retrospective featured new restorations of films rarely seen on the big screen in the United States, including her early roles in films such as “Poverty and Nobility” and “The Sign of Venus,” her stunning portrayal of a peasant opposite Omar Sharif in Francesco Rosi’s 1967 period drama, “More than a Miracle,” as well as her Oscar-winning performance in Vittorio De Sica’s 1961 “Two Women.”
The series also showcased her beloved collaborations with Marcello Mastroianni and De Sica in films like “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” “Marriage Italian Style,” and “A Special Day,” and her most recent starring role in her son, Edoardo Ponti’s, “The Life Ahead.” Ponti traveled to New York to present the film.
One of the highlights of the series was the world premiere of a 4K restoration of Alessandro Blasetti’s 1954 “Too Bad She’s Bad”, featuring Loren and Mastroianni’s first appearance together as an on-screen couple.
The series also featured the world premiere of a 4K restoration of Stanley Donen’s “Arabesque” (1966), starring Loren and Gregory Peck, the New York premiere of the 4K restoration of Charlie Chaplin’s “A Countess From Hong Kong” (1967), and a presentation of Robert Altman’s “Ready to Wear” (1994) on 35mm, which stars Loren in an international that includes Marcello Mastroianni, Chiara Mastroianni, Anouk Aimée, Kim Basinger, Lauren Bacall, Julia Roberts, Tim Robbins, and Forest Whitaker.
“With this tribute to one of the greatest stars in the history of cinema, Cinecittà intends to narrate the story of a timeless myth that continues to inspire generations of actors, directors, and cinephiles worldwide and to enhance once again in the world the great strength of Italian cinema,” said Sbarigia.
Many of the films featured in the retrospective are available to stream online. Click on the titles for direct links.
