Sanremo. The “Cinema under the stars”, eighteenth edition of the outdoor film festival organized by the Pigna Mon Amour Association and Cmc/Nidodiragno Produzioni.
Seven films for seven evenings – all with free participation for the public – scheduled from 4 July to 29 August, for an event that has now become a regular feature of Sanremo summers.
The location is new this year. Due to renovation works in Piazza Santa Brigida, the historic theater of projections, we moved to Piazza San Costanzo, in the area behind the Church of San Costanzo, where the arches of Via del Popolo begin.
The “Cinema under the stars” is also supported by the economic contribution of the Municipality of Sanremo – Department of Tourism, Sport and Events (in concert with the Department of Culture) and is included in the 2024 calendar of summer events of the City of Flowers.
The theme of the edition “Cinema, female planet”
For the summer of 2024, Pigna Mon Amour and CMC/Nidodiragno Produzioni have chosen a program of films linked to the universe of women, under the banner of “Cinema, female planet”.
Strong figures who have characterized contemporary art or society, who have fought for justice or for their own freedom, against the social conventions of particular historical eras or specific countries. Or simply looking for a little happiness and a better life.
Portraits of women in cinema directed by directors (Maria Sharader, Julie Taymor, Teona Strugar Mitevska, Shirin Neshat) and told by amazing actresses (among others, Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Oscar candidates Carey Mulligan and Naomi Watts, Salma Hayek , Emma Stone). Stories of cheerful, unfortunate, fragile, rebellious women, stories that will make you think and smile.
Furthermore, as a corollary and prologue to the entire event, on Thursday 4 July, the performance by music producer Stefano Fumagalli entitled “L’Amo(re) e la (Vio)Lenza”, created for TEDxLecco, will be projected on the big screen. The performance addresses the theme of violence against women and aims to be a tribute to the lives lost and a call for change, a praise to music and art as a form of care, testimony and social change.
Programming
Thursday 4 July: “She said – Even me” (2022), directed by Maria Sharader
Thursday 11 July: “Diana – The secret story of Lady D” (2013), directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel
Thursday 18 July: “The Favourite” (2018), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Monday 22 July: “Mulan” (1998), Disney cartoon
Thursday 15 August: “Frida” (2002), directed by Julie Taymor
Thursday 22 August: “God is a woman and her name is Petrunya (2019), directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska
Thursday 29 August: “Women Without Men” (2009), directed by Shirin Neshat
Screenings at 9.15pm (or a little later, waiting for dusk)
This year’s show begins on Thursday 4 July with “She said”, in Italian released with the title “ Anche io”. The film reconstructs the investigation conducted by two New York Times journalists on film producer Harvey Weinstein. A work that not only brought to light the scandal of abuse perpetrated by Weinstein himself, but which also broke the silence on the delicate topic of sexual violence in Hollywood, launching the #Metoo movement throughout the world.
“Diana – The Secret Story of Lady D” (Thursday 11 July) focuses on the last two years of the life of Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, played by actress Naomi Watts. The passionate love story between the princess and the surgeon Hasnat Khan suggests how the discovery of true happiness then allowed Diana to successfully engage in the humanitarian field.
The next film, “The Favourite” by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (Thursday 18 July), has won multiple awards. Olivia Colman, who plays the role of Queen Anne of England, won the 2019 Oscar, the Golden Globe, the Coppa Volpi at the Venice Film Festival and the 2029 BAFTA for best actress. The film won six other awards BAFTA and the Grand Jury Prize in Venice 2018. Alongside the fragile sovereign Anna, with poor health and a fickle temperament, in a country at war against France, there are two charismatic female figures: the close friend Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) who governs the country in his stead and the charming yet calculating Abigail Masham (Emma Stone).
Exceptionally on Monday, July 22nd, so as not to overlap with the other events scheduled in the historic center, “Mulan”, a Disney cartoon from 1998, will be screened. It is a story of disguise and great challenges that of the young Mulan, who decides to replace elderly father to save him from being forced into arms. To this end he dons men’s clothes and leaves with the army, demonstrating his inestimable worth.
After a break in the programming of a few weeks, it resumes on August 15th, Thursday 15 August, with “Frida”, an autobiographical film on the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, a symbol of physical pain and daily female resistance, which joins that – more heroic – of the men. Great cast of actors including Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd, Edward Norton, Valeria Golino and Antonio Banderas.
The scenarios change completely on Thursday 22 August: the film “God is a woman and her name is Petrunya” takes us to Macedonia. Every year in the Macedonian city of Stip a religious festival takes place during which a cross is thrown into the river. Traditionally only men from the community participate in the competition. Petrunya is a young woman of 32, a history graduate, unemployed, who still lives with her parents and suffers the humiliation of her mother. Petrunya surprisingly recovers the cross before everyone. However, religious tradition is violated, and none of the participants in the competition have the intention of leaving the sacred object in the hands of a woman. A film that makes you think, smile.
The 2024 edition of “Cinema under the Stars” closes on Thursday 29 August with the film “Women Without Men”, the story of four women of different ages and social situations who suffer the discomfort of their female condition in Tehran in 1953. The film won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 2009 Venice Film Festival.
