The event, born in 1996 in the spaces of the former slaughterhouse in via Cornaro and then moved to the Giardini della Rotonda, on the city walls, has found a new location since last year in the nearby Bastione Moro II, another space on the walls recently restored and reopened to the public. An evocative and still little-known place that finds new life thanks to cultural events like this. Last year’s experience was decidedly positive and the organizers decided to remain in this space, thanks also to the collaboration and support of the Padua Mura Committee.
As per tradition (now almost thirty years old) the event opens with a classic with free admission. This year a crackling opening with a very entertaining film, but rich in content: “Fat is Beautiful” by John Waters (1988), a hilarious comedy with a cast featuring the legendary Divine (a transvestite actor who starred in many Waters), singer Deborah Harry (ex- Blondie), Sonny Bono (remember Sonny & Cher?) and the famous blues singer Ruth Brown. Yes, because the film is a tribute to the golden years of rock’n’roll which the organizers chose to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the birth of rock’n’roll in 1954. But there are many themes touched upon, albeit lightly, by this comedy: racism, body shaming, gender identity, female condition, youth rebellion. Topics that are still very current today.
The program will continue with a marathon of arthouse films of the season: great successes (from “Poor Creatures!” by Lanthimos to Paola Cortellesi’s film “There’s Still Tomorrow”, from Nolan’s Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” to “The Holdovers” ”) and small films that have not found adequate space in theaters and which certainly deserve a second chance.
There are many documentaries, from the Italian “Kissing Gorbachev” with the punk band CCCP to the beautiful “La Singla”, on the deaf flamenco dancer Antonia Singla. And again the surprising environmental documentary “The Oak and its Inhabitants”, the intimate “Fragments of a Love Affair”, Werner Herzog’s masterpiece “The Fire Within”, the Berlin Golden Bear “On the Adamant”. Like every year, in August, the meeting with Andrea Segre, who will present “Kripton” by Francesco Munzi, produced and distributed by his ZaLab.
Among the special evenings are the preview of the Palestinian film “Gaza mon amour” by the Nasser brothers (18 July) and that of the New Zealand film “Juniper”, starring Charlotte Rampling, which will be released in theaters in the autumn.
And then the classics: from the restoration of “Citizen Kane” by Orson Welles (to whom the image of this year’s exhibition is dedicated), to the beautiful “In the City of Hell” by Castellani (homage to Giulietta Masina on the thirtieth anniversary of her death ) at the final tribute (September 5) to the great Roger Corman, a pillar of off-Hollywood cinema who passed away a few weeks ago, with his “The Barker Clan”. Among the novelties this year is a new bar space, managed by “Ombre rossa”, with events at aperitif time, before films. And the participation of CinemaUno Estate in the “Cinema Revolution” project, with tickets for Italian and European Union films for just 3.50 euros. For information: www.cuc-cinemauno.it
