Edited by Simona Ciasca and Paolo Onofri
POTENZA PICENA – In Potenza Picena, during the twentieth century, there were two cinema halls: until 1970 the condominium cinema “Bruno Mugellini” managed first by Luigino Gatti, who had a shop in Galiziano where he sold radios and later also televisions, then by Memorino Piani and the Aurora cinema, called by all the “mythical cinema of the priests”, managed by the Parish of Santo Stefano, where Antonio Cerquetti, “Nacche” (in the photo) and Giuseppe Canullo operated the cinematographic machine, which operated until 1983.
In Potenza Picena the young people had organized themselves over the years in the cultural youth club, in the Arci-Uisp “Rinascita” club, in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, in the “Teorema” cultural center in Via Castelfidardo and lastly in the Millepiani Social Center in Vico Balilla.
All these youth associations have always taken care of the screening of art films in the various Cineforum cycles.
He started the Cultural Youth Club in 1974, which had its headquarters in the municipal premises of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
Among the organizers of this club we remember: Roberto Domenichini, Paolo Onofri, Giuseppe Papa, Francesco Agostini, Paolo Parigi, Ugo Riccobelli, Paola Meriggi, Pino Scataglini, Simonetta Scataglini and Bruno Bocchini.
This cultural youth club organized several film cycles at the Aurora Cinema, including in 1974 films by Costa Gravas, “The Confession” and “l’Amerikano” and by Luis Bunuel, “Nazarin” and “The Phantom of Freedom”. Furthermore, in another series of film clubs: “Family Life” by K. Loach, “The discreet charm of the bourgeoisie”, by L. Bunuel, “Bitter City” by J. Huston, “Night Effect” by F. Truffaut and “Whispers and Cries” by I. Bergman.
In 1977, once the Cultural Youth Club was dissolved, the Circolo Arci-Uisp “Rinascita” was formed, again in the premises of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, and seven art films were programmed in the premises of the Albergo Centrale: “Viva Zapata ”, “High Noon”, “The Hot Night of Inspector Tibbs”, “Privilege”, “Joi Hill”, “Galileo” and “Take the Money and Run”.
In 1981, the “Teorema” Cultural Center was established in the municipal premises of Via Castelfidardo, which had within it a cinema club, followed by Gino Ciarrocchi, Giuseppe Ciarrocchi, Franco Biagiola and Giuliano Margaretini.
This cinema club of the “Teorema” Cultural Center has curated several Cineforums at the Aurora cinema, including the one dedicated to Totò, “The Picasso of laughter” and the one dedicated to Woody Allen “The neuroses of a clown”.
Previously other film cycles organized by the political-cultural collective and the “F. Margaritini” of the PCI of Potenza Picena, also at the Aurora cinema: “On the margins of Hollywood”, John Cassavetes’ cinema, with the screening of his films: “Husbands”, “A wife”, “Murder of a Chinese bookie” and “Premier Night.” Furthermore, always from dn the same Collective, as part of the Festa dell’Unità, the “Cinema In-contro Pasolini Director” was organized at the church of S. Francesco, with his films: “The Gospel according to Matthew”, “Birds and birds” and “Medea”.
In 1997, on 5 January, on the initiative of the Centro Sociale Millepiani of Vico Balilla, films were screened at the “Bruno Mugellini” Theatre, which had been reopened in 1990, after the restoration work on “The empty thing”, “The epidemic of the image on bodies” and some short films by independent directors from the Marche region: Marco Bragaglia, Antonio Lucarini, Beniamino Catena and Paolo Doppieri. Also on 3/29/1997 “The Empty Thing. Resurrection: liturgy of the bodies”, also at the “Bruno Mugellini” Theater, organized by the Millepiani Social Center.
