Extravagant Cinema: From Cabiria To The Inferno

Presented by the Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, in collaboration with the Consulate of Italy in Brisbane and the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin.
For Italian Week, Brisbane, in 2010, four of the most celebrated films of the Italian silent cinema will be presented with live musical accompaniment at the Australian Cinémathèque, for the first time in Australia on restored 35mm prints, including Giovanni Pastrone’s epic masterpiece, Cabiria 1914.

‘I will never forget the first time I saw Giovanni Pastrone’s extraordinary Cabiria. I wasn’t quite prepared for the sheer scope and beauty of this film. And I was completely unprepared for having my sense of film history realigned. (…) Cabiria is not a collection of great moments or choices, but a magnificent, entrancing whole.’
Martin Scorsese

SCREENINGS

Il Fauno 1917
35MM, COLOUR, 65 MINUTES AT 18FPS (1325M), ITALY, SILENT, ITALIAN INTERTITLES (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR/SCRIPT: FEBO MARI / PRODUCTION: S.A. AMBROSIO / PRINT SOURCE: MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL CINEMA, TURIN

A fantastical version of the Pygmalion story, Il Fauno holds an importance place in the history of Italian symbolist cinema. Live musical accompaniment is provided by noted Italian pianist Mauro Colombis, who as been involved in silent film accompaniment since 1993 and has performed at Pordenone Silent Film Festival every year since 2002. The restoration of the film was completed in 1994 by the Cinémathèque Royale du Belgique de Bruxelles and by the Cineteca del Friuli di Gemona, in collaboration with the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin.

Where: Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A
When: 8.30pm Fri 28 May 2010
More Information: FREE EVENT - NO BOOKING REQUIRED

Cabiria 1914
35MM, COLOUR, 166 MINUTES AT 16FPS (3037 M), ITALY, SILENT, ENGLISH INTERTITLES / DIRECTOR: GIOVANNI PASTRONE/ SCRIPT: GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO, GIOVANNI PASTRONE / PRODUCTION: ITALA FILM / PRINT SOURCE: MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL CINEMA, TURIN

Cabiria is epic cinema, featuring a cast of thousands and extravagant staging. Set almost two thousand years ago, the film recounts the story of Princess Cabiria, sold into slavery after the commotion caused by an eruption of Mt Etna. The character of the kind slave, Maciste, created by Pastrone in Cabiria, features in a string of later popular films. Celebrated author and co-scriptwriter, Gabriele D’Annunzio, wrote the intertitles for the film. Live musical accompaniment for this one-time only event and Australian premiere of the restored print is provided by noted Italian pianist Mauro Colombis, who as been involved in silent film accompaniment since 1993 and has performed at Pordenone Silent Film Festival every year since 2002. Restored in 2006 by the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin.

Where: Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A
When: 2.00pm Sat 29 May 2010
More Information: FREE EVENT


Maciste all’Inferno 1926
35MM, COLOUR, 100 MINUTES AT 20FPS (2306 M), ITALY, SILENT, ITALIAN INTERTITLES (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR: GUIDO BRIGNONE / SCRIPT: RICCARDO ARTUFFO / PRODUCTION: FERT-PITTALUGA / PRINT SOURCE: MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL CINEMA, TURIN

‘Maciste all’Inferno is “devilishness in five acts”, set in a sensual, Baroque hell. (…) As usual Maciste works his wonder by defeating a fleet of devils, even though in the end it is not his force that wins but the prayers of a child. Maciste all’Inferno is the last film in the series starring Bartolomeo Pagano, who ends with one of his best performances. (…) The new joint restoration by Cineteca di Bologna and Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin, includes the original intertitles that describe the underworld with Dantesque tercets.’ (Stella Dagna & Claudia Gianetto, Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin). Federico Fellini cites Maciste all’Inferno as an early cinematic influence. Live musical accompaniment is provided on the Australian Cinémathèque’s restored 1929 Wurlitzer Style 260 (Special) theatre pipe organ by organist David Bailey. Restored in 2009 by the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin in collaboration with the Cineteca del Comune di Bologna.

Where: Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A.
When: 11.00am Sun 30 May 2010
More Information: FREE EVENT - NO BOOKING REQUIRED

Maciste in Vacanza 1921
35MM, COLOUR, 72 MINUTES AT 20FPS (1644 M), ITALY, SILENT, ITALIAN INTERTITLES (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) / DIRECTOR: LUIGI ROMANO BORGNETTO / SCRIPT: ALESSANDRO DE STEFANI / PRODUCTION: ITALA FILM / PRINT SOURCE: MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL CINEMA, TURIN

‘The stress of the frantic pace of modern life spares no one, not even Maciste, over-burdened with work and besieged by fans. A reinvigorating holiday is what he desires, above all if he can frolic through the countryside in his new little one-seat automobile, baptised “Diattolina” and loved by the giant like a wife. The honeymoon is doomed however by the price of popularity. In the street, the hotel, or the restaurant, everyone has problems to put before the hero of the cinematograph: mischievous brothers, annoying wives, cows that don't give milk, loves not reciprocated.... there is nothing which cannot be solved by Maciste! Maciste in vacanza stands out as one of the most anarchic and amusing titles of the series.’ (Stella Dagna & Claudia Gianetto, Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin). Live musical accompaniment is provided on the Australian Cinémathèque’s restored 1929 Wurlitzer Style 260 (Special) theatre pipe organ by organist David Bailey. Restored in 2008 by the Cineteca del Comune di Bologna, the Cineteca Nazionale di Roma and the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin.

Where: Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A
When: Wednesday the 2nd of June at 6.00pm
More information: FREE EVENT - NO BOOKING REQUIRED

GETTING TO THE CINEMATHEQUE
The Australian Cinémathèque is located at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), the second site of the Queensland Art Gallery. The two buildings are located within easy walking distance of each other (150 metres), and are part of the Queensland Cultural Bank Parklands. For and access map and further location details please visit our website: http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/

Other Events At GOMA

ART HISTORY TALK
The battle of the giants: Tintoretto vs Titian
Simona Albanese, University of Queensland

Jacopo Tintoretto’s artistic identity evolved as a kind of conscious and continual revolution against the model for painting provided by Titian. During the middle decades of the sixteenth-century, Titian was the most influential and admired painter in Venice, and the work of many younger painters was indebted to him. Tintoretto however, worked self-consciously in defiance of the older master. Following Titian’s death in 1576, Tintoretto’s art developed in a more mature and individualistic manner which had few precursors or followers. This lecture will analyse the Cristo risorgente (The risen Christ) c1555 from the collection of the Queensland Art Gallery, which shows Tintoretto’s mature style, and compare it to other relevant Biblical subjects, making reference also to works by Titian.

Where: Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A
When: 12.00pm Wed 2 June 2010




Talk - The historical imagination of Cabiria
Dr Tiziana Ferrero-Regis, Queensland University of Technology

The roots of Italian cinema’s enduring fascination with history can be traced to the silent era and in particular to Giovanni Pastrone’s Cabiria. Dr Tiziana Ferrero-Regis will speak about history and memory in this landmark of Italian silent cinema, as well as discussing the role that celebrated author and co-scriptwriter, Gabriele D’Annunzio, played in the production.

Where: Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A
When: 4.00pm Wed 26 May 2010

Australian Cinémathèque,
Gallery of Modern Art
Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3842 9555 or +61 0(7) 3840 7303
Email: gallery@qag.qld.gov.au

GETTING TO THE CINEMATHEQUE
The Australian Cinémathèque is located at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), the second site of the Queensland Art Gallery. The two buildings are located within easy walking distance of each other (150 metres), and are part of the Queensland Cultural Bank Parklands. For and access map and further location details please visit our website: www.qag.qld.gov.au

Subscribe to the Gallery Artmail e-bulletin and indicate your special interest in the Australian Cinémathèque to receive Cinemail fortnightly: www.qag.qld.gov/artmail

Film screenings introduced by program curator, Kathryn Weir. For further details of screenings, see www.qag.qld.gov.au/cinematheque

Acknowledgements
The generous assistance of the following individuals and organisations is gratefully acknowledged: the Consulate of Italy, Brisbane: Francesco Capecchi; Italian Week, Brisbane: Alessandro Sorbello; Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Turin: Alberto Barbera, Luca Giuliani, Stella Dagna, Stefania Carta, Andreina Sarale; Australian Cinémathèque Intern: Giulia Saccogna.