"Welcome to the North" - Benvenuti al Nord

3.5 potatoes

Finally, finally, finally saw the remake of "Welcome to the Sticks" (2008) - Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis by my beloved Mr. Dany Boon. Nothing can be funnier than this. But I must say, I enjoyed it pretty much...

This first remake "Welcome to the North" (2012) - Benvenuti al Nord was created in Italian by Italian director Luca Miniero and was produced by Dany Boon.

The original film was very well respected in this remake, and it was intelligently arranged in the way to follow the culture and its custom well. For example the main character goes to North of France and encounters the sticks with thick accent, but in the Italian remake, the Neapolitan with thick accent goes to North, to Milan, and encounters the different culture and so on. All the necessities from the original film was well marinated into the remake.
I thought it was very well done.

Angela Finocchiaro's double cast in the film was hilarious!

Highly recommended. BUT make sure to watch the original first!!
By the way, finally the American remake will be released in 2013. FYI.

"Welcome to the Sticks"

Synopsis (ENG): Alberto e Mattia live marital crisis. Silvia doesn't like Milan because of its pollution and she accuses Alberto to be an egoist. In the meantime, Mattia lives with his wife Maria and his son Edinson into his mother's house. Despite himself, he goes to work in Milan. The impact of the Neapolitan on this city is terrible but slowly, the prejudices begin to disappear. (Los Angeles Italia Film Festival)

Synopsis (IT): In Benvenuti al Nord, Alberto e Mattia, sono in crisi con le rispettive mogli. Silvia detesta Milano a causa delle polveri sottili e dell'ozono troposferico e accusa Alberto di pensare solo al lavoro e poco a lei. Intanto Mattia, il solito irresponsabile, vive con la moglie Maria e il figlio Edinson a casa della madre, lavora poco e proprio non riesce a pronunciare la parola "mutuo". Mattia suo malgrado finirà a lavorare a Milano, incastrato dall'ingenuità dei suoi amici che lo affidano alle cure di Alberto. L'impatto del napoletano con la città sarà terribile: partito con un giubbotto fendinebbia il povero Mattia finirà col rovinare la sua vita e quella dell'amico Alberto. Ma, piano piano, i pregiudizi inizieranno a sciogliersi... (Comingsoon.it)


Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKJvLexYEE


USA: Not Available JUST Yet

Quote of the Day - Italian

Charles de Montesquieu

"L'educazione consiste nel darci delle idee, la buona educazione nel metterle in proporzione."
 - Charles De Montesquieu

"Pina" 3D - Wim Wenders' latest

4 Potatoes

Last night Wim Wender introduced us the completely "new way" to enjoy 3D.
His latest film "Pina" (2011) a documentary/performing art film about the choreographer
Pina Bausch.

This could be the totally new way of enjoying stage/theater production also. It makes you feel like you are sitting on the front raw of the theater watching the performing art. So real.
Wim Wenders said "...3D was the only way to film dance...". He was so right.

Wim Wenders & Pina

Not only this documentary stunned me by the new discovery, it is also perfect in quality: location choices, music, editing and length of film.

Highly recommended.


Official Site & Trailer: http://www.pina-film.de/en/

More about Pina Bausch: http://www.pina-bausch.de/en/pina_bausch/index.php




USA: In Theater December 23rd, 2011


Germany's Official Submission for the Oscar 2012: Foreign Language Film

Quote of the Day - Italian

"Sono convinto che anche all'ultimo istante della nostra vita ognuno di noi può cambiare il proprio destino."  - Giacomo Leopardi

Proverb of the day - Italian

"Nelle botti piccine ci sta il vino buono"

"Good things (or people) come in small packages."

Quote of the day - Italian

La Citazione del Giorno: Amicizia

"Quando nel dolore si hanno compagni che lo condividono, l’animo può superare molte sofferenze." - William Shakespeare

"Farinelli"

4 Potatoes

Last night I was looking for this certain song on youtube and came across this movie "Farinelli" (1994) by Gérard Corbiau. I have seen it back when the film was out in 1995-ish. Eventually this movie was nominated for the Oscar Best Foreign Language Film and won the Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film in 1995. 
It is a good film and an amazing story, I mean an amazing story which was based on true event! Highly Recommended.


Oh by the way, the song which I was looking for.. "Lascia ch'io pianga" by Händel is also featured in this film. What a coincidence.


Synopsis: Gérard Corbiau directs this lush, Golden Globe-winning drama, based on the life of 18th-century castrato Farinelli (Stefano Dionisi) -- born Carlo Broschi -- and his tumultuous relationship with his brother and manager, Riccardo (Enrico Lo Verso), a composer of average abilities. The two share everything, but when Farinelli sets his sites on new artistic terrain, Riccardo is left behind. Jeroen Krabbé co-stars as composer George Frideric Handel. (Netflix)


Farinelli (Jan 24, 1705 - Sep 16, 1782)


USA: Available on DVD

"Quiet Chaos"

3.5 Potatoes

"Quiet Chaos" (2008) - Caos Calmo by Antonello Grimaldi is an Italian Film, starring Nanni Moretti. One day an executive and his brother save the lives of two drowning women in the ocean, he comes home and finds his wife dead. Now he has his 10 year-old daughter to take care of all by himself. Everyone tells him he is not emotional enough while he occupies himself with his daughter, his work, and everyone around him...

I liked the way it ended, and the music for the movie was good. Especially I loved the ending song "L'Amore Transparente" by Ivano Fossati.

Nanni Moretti is an amazing actor as always. AND a surprising cameo!!!!!


↓↓SPOILER ↓↓ (It is written in white so if you want to know the answer, highlight it to read)

ROMAN POLANSKI

Streaming Available on Netflix

DVD Availability Unknown

"The Best of Youth"

5 Potatoes out of 5

I was just thinking of this film the other day... 

"The Best of Youth" - la Meglio Gioventù (2003) by 

Marco Tullio Giordana. 

it has been any movie like this that truly touched my heart lately sadly to say but it is true... Originally planned as a 4-part TV mini-series, it was presented and awarded the prestigious "Un Certain Regard" award at the Cannes Film Festival 2003. The story follows the lives of two brothers Matteo and Nicola from 1966 through 2003. The movie is well written and well edited, of course, well directed that you would forget that it is almost 6 hours long. DVD available. Highly Recommended.