When last we visited our friend Dante, he was describing the poor souls who die "under the wrath of God," as Ciaran Carson wrote in his 2002 translation.
Today we crack open Canto IV, where Virgil is guiding Dante further into inferno, to what he calls the "cieco mondo." Non ci posso credere!
Ruppemi l'alto sonno ne la testa
un greve truono, sì ch'io mi riscossi
come persona ch'è per forza desta;
e l'occhio riposato intorno mossi,
dritto levato, e fiso riguardai
per conoscer lo loco dov' io fossi.
Vero è che 'n su la proda mi trovai
de la valle d'abisso dolorosa
che 'ntrono accoglie d'infiniti guai.
Oscura e profonda era e nebulosa
tanto che, per ficcar lo viso a fondo,
io non vi discernea alcuna cosa.
«Or discendiam qua giù nel cieco mondo»,
cominciò il poeta tutto smorto.
«Io sarò primo, e tu sarai secondo».
Dante's Inferno, Canto IV, 1-15
If you need to see where we left off, go to the post I wrote on Jan. 12.
Grazie per averci seguito!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Top 5 Italian Rock Songs
My friend Laura said the Jovanotti concert in New York last week was great and it got me thinking......
Top 5 Italian rock songs (in random order):
"Inno Nazionale" -- Luca Carboni
"Spirito" -- Litfiba
"Ragazzo Fortunato" -- Jovanotti
"La Canzone del Sole" -- Lucio Battisti
"America" -- Gianna Nannini
Si? No? Fatevi sentire.
You could also easily make the argument that it's "Certe notti" by Ligabue.
Or "Hai un momento, Dio?" (Also by Ligabue)
Maybe one more by Ligabue: I love "Urlando control il cielo."
Italian rock is an acquired taste, but once acquired, it's shot through with memories of the days you've spent in Il Bel Paese.
-30-
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Conversazione in Atlanta @ Emory
Un po' di novità da queste parti.
Ho cominciato a fare un corso d'italiano che si punta totalmente su conversazione.
Il corso si fa a Emory University qui ad Atlanta, e si incontra sabato mattina.
Parliamo di cinema, di libri e di tante altre cose. (Si fa anche un po' di grammatica; ora si sta ripassando il passato remoto. Aiuto!)
E' bello!
Tutti gli altri studenti sono come me -- appassionati della lingua italiana.
C'è una cantante di lirica fra gli studenti, e un professore di lingue.
Poi c'è la maestra: Antonella. Lei è di Roma, ed è molto brava! Molto simpatica, alla mano, sempre pronta a sorridere.
Per mantenere una padronanza della lingua, ho bisogno sempre di practica, e questo corso me la da.
O ragazzi, posso cambiare casa 6 volte nel giro di 12 anni. Posso accettare che mi sto invecchiando. Posso anche, per quanto mi pare, stare senza lavoro.
Ma non posso mai abbandonare lo studio d'italiano!
Interested? Go here:
http://cll.emory.edu/eate/index.cfm
Ho cominciato a fare un corso d'italiano che si punta totalmente su conversazione.
Il corso si fa a Emory University qui ad Atlanta, e si incontra sabato mattina.
Parliamo di cinema, di libri e di tante altre cose. (Si fa anche un po' di grammatica; ora si sta ripassando il passato remoto. Aiuto!)
E' bello!
Tutti gli altri studenti sono come me -- appassionati della lingua italiana.
C'è una cantante di lirica fra gli studenti, e un professore di lingue.
Poi c'è la maestra: Antonella. Lei è di Roma, ed è molto brava! Molto simpatica, alla mano, sempre pronta a sorridere.
Per mantenere una padronanza della lingua, ho bisogno sempre di practica, e questo corso me la da.
O ragazzi, posso cambiare casa 6 volte nel giro di 12 anni. Posso accettare che mi sto invecchiando. Posso anche, per quanto mi pare, stare senza lavoro.
Ma non posso mai abbandonare lo studio d'italiano!
Interested? Go here:
http://cll.emory.edu/eate/index.cfm
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
L'Anno del Futurismo
If you read the blog for any length of time, you may know that my favorite movement in Italian art is Futurismo, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
In fact, the original text that launched the political philosophy, of which the art movement was a part, was published on this day in 1909 in Le Figaro.
Some of the key figures in the art movement that was part of Futurismo are painters Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla and Carlo Carrà.
Cultural groups across Italy have already begun marking the occasion with exhibits and other activities.
Milan, the city where Futurismo was born, is taking the lead with a number of key exhibits, including one at the Palazzo Reale called "Futurismo 1909-2009 Velocità + Arte + Azione."
The exhibit will include 400 paintings, drawings, photos and works of sculpture, among other objects. There will also be another exhibit called "Futurismo 100: Simultaneità," at Palazzo Reale that launches in October.
There's also an exhibit at Palazzo delle Stelline about Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, the thinker behind the movement which was concerned primarily with modernity, speed and industrialism.
If you plan to be in Milan, definitely take part. If nothing else, you could wander over to the Pinacoteca di Brera, which has as part of its permanent collection some of Boccioni's masterpieces.
Can't go to Milan? Well the Museum of Modern Art in New York owns several key Boccioni sculptures as well as other Futurist works.
In fact, the original text that launched the political philosophy, of which the art movement was a part, was published on this day in 1909 in Le Figaro.
Some of the key figures in the art movement that was part of Futurismo are painters Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla and Carlo Carrà.
Cultural groups across Italy have already begun marking the occasion with exhibits and other activities.
Milan, the city where Futurismo was born, is taking the lead with a number of key exhibits, including one at the Palazzo Reale called "Futurismo 1909-2009 Velocità + Arte + Azione."
The exhibit will include 400 paintings, drawings, photos and works of sculpture, among other objects. There will also be another exhibit called "Futurismo 100: Simultaneità," at Palazzo Reale that launches in October.
There's also an exhibit at Palazzo delle Stelline about Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, the thinker behind the movement which was concerned primarily with modernity, speed and industrialism.
If you plan to be in Milan, definitely take part. If nothing else, you could wander over to the Pinacoteca di Brera, which has as part of its permanent collection some of Boccioni's masterpieces.
Can't go to Milan? Well the Museum of Modern Art in New York owns several key Boccioni sculptures as well as other Futurist works.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Berlusconi and the "Scomparsa Dei Fatti"
I'm posting a story about a lawyer who was found guilty in Italy this week of taking a bribe in exchange for giving false testimony in a trial against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The story appeared in yesterday's New York Times; I was not going to post the story here because it just seems like more of the same.
But then my friend Ilaria forwarded me an email from Italy with the subject line: "La Scomparsa dei Fatti" ("The Disappearance of the Facts"), which says that stories about the conviction were conspicuously absent from news broadcasts and newspapers in Italy, where Berlusconi controls much of the media.
So here's the story out in the light where it belongs.
Italy Finds Lawyer Guilty of Taking a Bribe in Exchange for Protecting the Premier
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: February 18, 2009
David Mills was found guilty of taking $600,000 to provide false testimony in two trials involving Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi.
>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/world/europe/18italy.html
The story appeared in yesterday's New York Times; I was not going to post the story here because it just seems like more of the same.
But then my friend Ilaria forwarded me an email from Italy with the subject line: "La Scomparsa dei Fatti" ("The Disappearance of the Facts"), which says that stories about the conviction were conspicuously absent from news broadcasts and newspapers in Italy, where Berlusconi controls much of the media.
So here's the story out in the light where it belongs.
Italy Finds Lawyer Guilty of Taking a Bribe in Exchange for Protecting the Premier
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: February 18, 2009
David Mills was found guilty of taking $600,000 to provide false testimony in two trials involving Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi.
>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/world/europe/18italy.html
"Gomorra" in Atlanta starting March 13
Good news!
"Gomorra," the film based on Roberto Saviano's bestselling book by the same name, comes to the Landmark Theater in Atlanta on Fri., March 13, and will run for a week.
I've written a few times here about the book and the movie, which opened last week in New York and Los Angeles. And the movie has now been reviewed in quite a few places in the U.S. (I provided a link to the review in the New York Times last week).
All of the reviews have been positive -- I think American reviewers are just so stunned by what they see. I think Ciambellina will be a bit stunned by what she sees even though she's read the book. That's because I think violence is even more unbearable to watch on-screen when you know it's true.
What happens in "Gomorra" really happens in some of the neighborhoods of Naples and Caserta.
Anyway, here's a link to a review of "Gomorra" in The New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/02/23/090223crci_cinema_lane
I'm so glad the film is coming to Atlanta! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of Italian films in Atlanta.
Ci vediamo al cinema!
"Gomorra," the film based on Roberto Saviano's bestselling book by the same name, comes to the Landmark Theater in Atlanta on Fri., March 13, and will run for a week.
I've written a few times here about the book and the movie, which opened last week in New York and Los Angeles. And the movie has now been reviewed in quite a few places in the U.S. (I provided a link to the review in the New York Times last week).
All of the reviews have been positive -- I think American reviewers are just so stunned by what they see. I think Ciambellina will be a bit stunned by what she sees even though she's read the book. That's because I think violence is even more unbearable to watch on-screen when you know it's true.
What happens in "Gomorra" really happens in some of the neighborhoods of Naples and Caserta.
Anyway, here's a link to a review of "Gomorra" in The New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/02/23/090223crci_cinema_lane
I'm so glad the film is coming to Atlanta! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of Italian films in Atlanta.
Ci vediamo al cinema!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Jovanotti @ New York
UPDATE: I know a lucky bastard who lives in New York and is attending the Jovanotti show tonight: my friend Laura! So maybe Laura will be able to share her impressions of the concert with Ciambellina readers. Divertiti cara amica! I hope he plays "Ragazzo Fortunato" -- my favorite Jovanotti song.
Italian rapper/singer/DJ Jovanotti is in New York this week!
You lucky bastards who live in New York can see him play tonight! Italian students at NYU will get a chance to hear his thoughts later in the week.
Here's an excerpt from Jovanotti's blog (http://www.soleluna.com/), with details about his stops in and around the city:
JOVA DJ-18 febbraio ore 20-CONCERTO all'HIGHLINE BALLROOM (in chelsea).Il concerto nel locale più "cool" della città è sold out ma in genere a New York un'ora prima dello show mettono fuori qualche biglietto.
19 febbraio-Ore 17.00-ISTUTUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA (park avenue-uptown manhattan). Lorenzo e il giornalista Pier Negri parleranno di New York e di quello che questa città rappresenta per due del 66 cresciuti a pane e musica. Una bella chiacchierata aperta al pubblico (pochi posti disponibili,al massimo 200 quindi datevi una regolata se siete in città)
19 febbraio ore 20.00-CONCERTO a LE POISSON ROUGE (bleecker street-east village manhattan).Il secondo show a grande richiesta in un locale bellissimo e storico per il rock e la musica nuova (sold out ma vale il discorso del concerto precedente).
20 febbraio ore 18-NEW YORK UNIVERSITY-Lorenzo parlerà agli studenti dell'NYU interessati alla cultura italiana e alla scena pop in generale. Mostrerà i suoi video e parlerà con il Professore e Giornalista Antonio Monda (La Repubblica) della sua storia,del suo rapporto con l'immagine ecc. (ci saranno gli studenti di cinema). L'incontro è aperto anche a quelli che non sono studenti all'NYU ma che hanno piacere di esserci.
Italian rapper/singer/DJ Jovanotti is in New York this week!
You lucky bastards who live in New York can see him play tonight! Italian students at NYU will get a chance to hear his thoughts later in the week.
Here's an excerpt from Jovanotti's blog (http://www.soleluna.com/), with details about his stops in and around the city:
JOVA DJ-18 febbraio ore 20-CONCERTO all'HIGHLINE BALLROOM (in chelsea).Il concerto nel locale più "cool" della città è sold out ma in genere a New York un'ora prima dello show mettono fuori qualche biglietto.
19 febbraio-Ore 17.00-ISTUTUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA (park avenue-uptown manhattan). Lorenzo e il giornalista Pier Negri parleranno di New York e di quello che questa città rappresenta per due del 66 cresciuti a pane e musica. Una bella chiacchierata aperta al pubblico (pochi posti disponibili,al massimo 200 quindi datevi una regolata se siete in città)
19 febbraio ore 20.00-CONCERTO a LE POISSON ROUGE (bleecker street-east village manhattan).Il secondo show a grande richiesta in un locale bellissimo e storico per il rock e la musica nuova (sold out ma vale il discorso del concerto precedente).
20 febbraio ore 18-NEW YORK UNIVERSITY-Lorenzo parlerà agli studenti dell'NYU interessati alla cultura italiana e alla scena pop in generale. Mostrerà i suoi video e parlerà con il Professore e Giornalista Antonio Monda (La Repubblica) della sua storia,del suo rapporto con l'immagine ecc. (ci saranno gli studenti di cinema). L'incontro è aperto anche a quelli che non sono studenti all'NYU ma che hanno piacere di esserci.
Study in or near Genova
I received an email about this program stamattina:
Consortium Educational Consulting in
Genoa, Italy
www.studyinitaly.it
Whether it is a traditional language and culture course of one-week, two-week or four-week duration, an internship or our special summer theatre workshop in Rapallo on the Riviera, Consortium wants to provide the most enriching and valuable educational experience for your students.
Our courses have been accredited by some of the most prestigious American universities.
Located in the heart of Genoa, Consortium Language Center is a stone's throw from the historical palaces of Via Garibaldi, listed on UNESCO's World Heritage sites. As a full service provider, Consortium organizes excursions to nearby Portofino and Cinque Terre, as well as the churches, palaces and museums filled with the works some of Genoa's most famous artists, including Rubens and Van Dyck.
Please visit our website http://www.studyinitaly.it for full details.
Thank you for your attention.
Buon lavoro!
Suzanne Branciforte, Director, Consortium Educational
Author of Parliamo italiano! (Houghton Mifflin, now Wiley & Sons)
Consortium Educational Consulting in
Genoa, Italy
www.studyinitaly.it
Whether it is a traditional language and culture course of one-week, two-week or four-week duration, an internship or our special summer theatre workshop in Rapallo on the Riviera, Consortium wants to provide the most enriching and valuable educational experience for your students.
Our courses have been accredited by some of the most prestigious American universities.
Located in the heart of Genoa, Consortium Language Center is a stone's throw from the historical palaces of Via Garibaldi, listed on UNESCO's World Heritage sites. As a full service provider, Consortium organizes excursions to nearby Portofino and Cinque Terre, as well as the churches, palaces and museums filled with the works some of Genoa's most famous artists, including Rubens and Van Dyck.
Please visit our website http://www.studyinitaly.it for full details.
Thank you for your attention.
Buon lavoro!
Suzanne Branciforte, Director, Consortium Educational
Author of Parliamo italiano! (Houghton Mifflin, now Wiley & Sons)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Regali! (gifts)
I nostri amici Jen e Mike sono venuti a trovarci durante il fine settimana e guardate un po' quello che ci ha regalato.
Due confezioni di Guglielmo caffe e una confezione di biscotti! (Sentite un po' il nome: 'ciambelle.' Il regalo perfetto per Ciambellina!)
Ci sono alcune cose al mondo che appena le vedo o le gusto o le sento, mi danno la sensazione di essere in Italia, anche se ci sto lontana ~3,000 kilometri.
E biscotti italiani, come quelli delle marche comuni tipo Balocco o Mulino Bianco, fanno parte di quel bel gruppetto di cosettine molto amate da me, le quali sono in effetti ricordini della mia vita italiana.
Appena ho inzuppato questi biscotti nella tazza di caffelatte, mi sono ritrovata di nuovo nella cucina dell'appartamento in Via dei Serragli a Firenze.
In quel periodo ero appena arrivata a Firenze, dopo un soggiorno sonnolente e pacifico in un piccolo paese vicino a Pisa. Cercavo un lavoro, e tentavo di inserirmi nei ritmi di Firenze, una città che non è sempre accogliente agli stranieri -- almeno non subito.
Il caffelatte preparato a casa ed i biscotti che abbinavo con esso mi coccolavano, mi sostenevano, mi davano appoggio.
Paradiso -- ritrovato.
Grazie cari amici!
Friday, February 13, 2009
NYT review of "Gomorra"
"Gomorra" opens in New York today and The New York Times publishes a review today of the movie (see link below), which is a film adaptation of a 2006 book by Roberto Saviano of the same name.
The book, a subject of several Ciambellina posts, is a from-the-ground-up look at the Camorra, the mob based in Naples, which as the title of the NYT article suggests, is lesser known than Sicily's Mafia -- but just as ferocious.
The article picks up on something Saviano himself said in an interview with NPR. Saviano thinks the film will be eye-opening to Americans, who see Italy as a fun vacation spot, not a country gripped in parts by organized crime syndicates that have devastated local economies.
Last but not least, it looks like my favorite independent theater in Atlanta will soon be showing "Gomorra." Stay tuned and enjoy the article!
Lesser-Known Mobsters, as Brutal as the Old Ones
By MANOHLA DARGIS
Published: February 13, 2009
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/movies/13gomo.html
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
NYT: Italian Unknowns, From $10 to $20
Il Nostro Inviato and I often share a chuckle Sunday mornings when we open the New York Times.
That's because we'll find invariably that one more writer for the Travel section has finagled a trip to Italy. And who can blame them?
Lately, the Times' wine column, the Pour, has been showing a similar bent. But you'll find no complaints here. Anzi.
In Eric Asimov's column today, he mentions a number of wines I like, including a Rosso di Montalcino and an Aglianico.
The Pour
Italian Unknowns, From $10 to $20
By ERIC ASIMOV
Published: February 11, 2009
Few places offer a wider selection of singular wines in the $10 to $20 price range — the sweet spot for great wine values — than Italy.
http://www.www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/dining/11pour.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
That's because we'll find invariably that one more writer for the Travel section has finagled a trip to Italy. And who can blame them?
Lately, the Times' wine column, the Pour, has been showing a similar bent. But you'll find no complaints here. Anzi.
In Eric Asimov's column today, he mentions a number of wines I like, including a Rosso di Montalcino and an Aglianico.
The Pour
Italian Unknowns, From $10 to $20
By ERIC ASIMOV
Published: February 11, 2009
Few places offer a wider selection of singular wines in the $10 to $20 price range — the sweet spot for great wine values — than Italy.
http://www.www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/dining/11pour.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Study/work abroad possibilities
Teach English in Lombardia
Below is a link to the info and application forms for the English Language
Assistant Program in the Schools of Lombardy in 2009/10. The committee
would be very grateful if you could pass this info on to your students.
http://www.pacioli.net/it/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=62&Itemid=30
***
RIT program in Genova
The Rochester Institute of Technology is offering for the sixth year its Italian Study & Work Abroad Program.
May 25-July 5, 2009
Number of credits (3 trimester courses)
8 trimester credits for Italian language
4 trimester credits for Italian culture
The language courses offered are from elementary through advanced.
One semester of the language as a pre-requisite.
For students with a mimumum of 2 years of the language, there are internships opportunities in lieu of the culture course. These placements are made with great accuracy to match both student’s field of study and language proficiency level.
Resume, cover letter, and internship applicaiton are collected prior to placement to screen applicants and seek best placement. The program director coordinates all these contacts in collaboration with RIT Work Abroad Office.
For fees and further information, please direct students to
Program Director Elisabetta D'Amanda, RIT's Italian Program Coordinator and RIT's Italy Study and Work Abroad Program Director, at exdgla@rit.edu
***
The Italian Program at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J. is pleased to announce its participation in a new study-abroad program in Florence, Italy, May 16-June 27, 2009.
The program, Montclair in Florence, will be run in conjunction with Arizona State University, making it possible to register for Italian language courses at various levels.
Students from any university may apply for the program. The full program announcement and application packet can be found at:
http://www.montclair.edu/GlobalEd/studyabroad/summer/institutes/summerabroad/Florence/%20index.html
Below is a link to the info and application forms for the English Language
Assistant Program in the Schools of Lombardy in 2009/10. The committee
would be very grateful if you could pass this info on to your students.
http://www.pacioli.net/it/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=62&Itemid=30
***
RIT program in Genova
The Rochester Institute of Technology is offering for the sixth year its Italian Study & Work Abroad Program.
May 25-July 5, 2009
Number of credits (3 trimester courses)
8 trimester credits for Italian language
4 trimester credits for Italian culture
The language courses offered are from elementary through advanced.
One semester of the language as a pre-requisite.
For students with a mimumum of 2 years of the language, there are internships opportunities in lieu of the culture course. These placements are made with great accuracy to match both student’s field of study and language proficiency level.
Resume, cover letter, and internship applicaiton are collected prior to placement to screen applicants and seek best placement. The program director coordinates all these contacts in collaboration with RIT Work Abroad Office.
For fees and further information, please direct students to
Program Director Elisabetta D'Amanda, RIT's Italian Program Coordinator and RIT's Italy Study and Work Abroad Program Director, at exdgla@rit.edu
***
The Italian Program at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J. is pleased to announce its participation in a new study-abroad program in Florence, Italy, May 16-June 27, 2009.
The program, Montclair in Florence, will be run in conjunction with Arizona State University, making it possible to register for Italian language courses at various levels.
Students from any university may apply for the program. The full program announcement and application packet can be found at:
http://www.montclair.edu/GlobalEd/studyabroad/summer/institutes/summerabroad/Florence/%20index.html
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Mi diverto con Gianluigi!
I mentioned I am on an email listserv for Italian teachers. Something about the following email, which I received from the group this morning, just makes me laugh:
Edizioni Farinelli has published a new Italian reader Mi diverto con Gianluigi! (translation: I have fun with Gianluigi) for beginning-level students. The illustrated, 62-page text tells the story of a delightful southern Italian boy through the eyes of an American Italian teacher who visited his town, Fornelli (Molise), during summers. The reader has 10 units each with a dialogue or narrative, accompanying exercises for comprehension, speaking and conversation and a vocabulary chart.
Mi diverto con Gianluigi! was written by Bruna Petrarca Boyle, a lecturer in Italian at the University of Rhode Island.
Mi diverto con Gianluigi! is $16.95. A separate answer key is available to teachers for $6.00 Other readers available from Edizioni Farinelli include Diario della studentessa Jean (Levels 1-2); Jean e Roscoe vanno a Perugia (Level 2); Uffa! (Level 3), and Non soltanto un baule (Level 4-5).
For more information and to order visit www.edizionifarinelli.com
Edizioni Farinelli has published a new Italian reader Mi diverto con Gianluigi! (translation: I have fun with Gianluigi) for beginning-level students. The illustrated, 62-page text tells the story of a delightful southern Italian boy through the eyes of an American Italian teacher who visited his town, Fornelli (Molise), during summers. The reader has 10 units each with a dialogue or narrative, accompanying exercises for comprehension, speaking and conversation and a vocabulary chart.
Mi diverto con Gianluigi! was written by Bruna Petrarca Boyle, a lecturer in Italian at the University of Rhode Island.
Mi diverto con Gianluigi! is $16.95. A separate answer key is available to teachers for $6.00 Other readers available from Edizioni Farinelli include Diario della studentessa Jean (Levels 1-2); Jean e Roscoe vanno a Perugia (Level 2); Uffa! (Level 3), and Non soltanto un baule (Level 4-5).
For more information and to order visit www.edizionifarinelli.com
Sunday, February 08, 2009
NYT story on "Gomorra" director
The film adaptation of the Italian book "Gomorra," which I've written about here, finally comes out in New York and Los Angeles this week. When the film will come to Atlanta, non lo so, but hopefully soon.
The New York Times has a story today about the film's director Matteo Garrone.
Living Where Crime Conquers All
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: February 8, 2009
“Gomorrah” is an Italian look at how a criminal organization penetrates a culture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/movies/08dona.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Addendum
"Gomorrah" is receiving a lot of press in America as its release here nears. After the Times' story was published, NPR ran a story on the film, and the author of the book, Roberto Saviano, said something that I found interesting.
"I hope this movie will finally show people the ferocious face of Italy, which is the face that really runs things," Saviano says. "I think many American moviegoers will be surprised."
I think that's a brilliant statement. America often only sees the fun, the pasta, the coffee, the gondolas. But Italy's a real country with real problems.
The New York Times has a story today about the film's director Matteo Garrone.
Living Where Crime Conquers All
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: February 8, 2009
“Gomorrah” is an Italian look at how a criminal organization penetrates a culture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/movies/08dona.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Addendum
"Gomorrah" is receiving a lot of press in America as its release here nears. After the Times' story was published, NPR ran a story on the film, and the author of the book, Roberto Saviano, said something that I found interesting.
"I hope this movie will finally show people the ferocious face of Italy, which is the face that really runs things," Saviano says. "I think many American moviegoers will be surprised."
I think that's a brilliant statement. America often only sees the fun, the pasta, the coffee, the gondolas. But Italy's a real country with real problems.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
"Too bad Blagojevich wasn't Italian"
Blagojevich, purtoppo per lui non è un parlamentare italiano
Translation: "Too bad for Blagojevich that he wasn't a member of Italian Parliament"
The following is a letter that appeared in Beppe Severgnini's popular column, "Italians," which is published in the Corriere della Sera.
I always find it interesting to hear an Italian's take on American news. This certainly is an interesting take on the impeachment of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich!
Caro Severgnini,
In questa istruttiva sequenza di immagini (http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2009/01/019092.html), pubblicata sul Sacramento Bee, assistiamo a uno spettacolo per noi italiani inusuale: il governatore dell'Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, buttato fuori dal Senato del suo Stato giovedì 29 gennaio grazie a una votazione dei suoi colleghi (59 a 0) e con l'accusa di abuso di potere.
In una seconda votazione, identica alla prima come risultato, Blagojevich è stato interdetto «per sempre» dai pubblici uffici nel suo Stato. Ma non è finita qui: i pubblici ministeri federali stanno preparando per lui anche, e giustamente, l'accusa di corruzione.
Lo ripeto per quelli del loggione: i colleghi di Blagojevich hanno buttato fuori all'unanimità un loro corrotto collega e hanno fatto in modo che non possa più accedere ai pubblici uffici dello Stato.
Nella sequenza vediamo anche l'immagine, scattata durante il processo, di un cartellone che riproduce una delle frasi pronunciate dal governatore durante un'intercettazione (udite, udite) e considerata come una delle prove a suo carico. È un vero peccato che Blagojevich non sia un membro del Parlamento italiano. I suoi colleghi lo avrebbero difeso e promosso con una votazione (in milanese moderno) bipartisan.
Saluti,
Paolo Nobile
Translation: "Too bad for Blagojevich that he wasn't a member of Italian Parliament"
The following is a letter that appeared in Beppe Severgnini's popular column, "Italians," which is published in the Corriere della Sera.
I always find it interesting to hear an Italian's take on American news. This certainly is an interesting take on the impeachment of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich!
Caro Severgnini,
In questa istruttiva sequenza di immagini (http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2009/01/019092.html), pubblicata sul Sacramento Bee, assistiamo a uno spettacolo per noi italiani inusuale: il governatore dell'Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, buttato fuori dal Senato del suo Stato giovedì 29 gennaio grazie a una votazione dei suoi colleghi (59 a 0) e con l'accusa di abuso di potere.
In una seconda votazione, identica alla prima come risultato, Blagojevich è stato interdetto «per sempre» dai pubblici uffici nel suo Stato. Ma non è finita qui: i pubblici ministeri federali stanno preparando per lui anche, e giustamente, l'accusa di corruzione.
Lo ripeto per quelli del loggione: i colleghi di Blagojevich hanno buttato fuori all'unanimità un loro corrotto collega e hanno fatto in modo che non possa più accedere ai pubblici uffici dello Stato.
Nella sequenza vediamo anche l'immagine, scattata durante il processo, di un cartellone che riproduce una delle frasi pronunciate dal governatore durante un'intercettazione (udite, udite) e considerata come una delle prove a suo carico. È un vero peccato che Blagojevich non sia un membro del Parlamento italiano. I suoi colleghi lo avrebbero difeso e promosso con una votazione (in milanese moderno) bipartisan.
Saluti,
Paolo Nobile
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Tempo bello = giro in Alfa
Faceva bel tempo qui ad Atlanta domenica, e quindi ci toccava andare per un giro in macchina. Per intenderci, un giro con l'Alfa Romeo. Nella foto di sopra, stiamo davanti ad un locale storico qui ad Atlanta. Si chiama Manuel's Tavern, ed è il locale più ricercato dai politici, i giornalisti ed altra gente che gli vuole stare vicino.
Ho scattato la foto quassù mentre giravamo per un rione della città che si chiama Cabbagetown (letteralmente 'paese dei cavoli'). In fondo alla strada si vede un vecchio mulino; dal 1886 al 1892 la direzione del mulino ha costruito le case che ci stanno intorno per gli operai.
Ci siamo fermati brevemente davanti ad una pizzeria dal nome Fritti. Vedete? Qui da noi c'è una passione folle per il cibo italiano.
Di nuovo a Cabbagetown, davanti ad un bar che si chiama Carroll Street Cafe.
Questa foto l'ho scattata prima di entrare in una galleria che è totalmente avvolta in murali dei graffiti, e la quale è una destinazione per gli artisti dei graffiti.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
What we're eating these days
Pizza fatta in casa. (Una specie di pizza bianca, diciamo.)
Le fettuccine alla carbonara. (Mancavano gli spaghetti in casa.)
Insalata di rucola --- sempre. SEMPRE!
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