Italian Film Club Fall 2015 Monday, September 21, 2015, 6 PM @ Language Center (THH 309) Johnny Stecchino / Johnny Toothpick Directed by Roberto Benigni, 1991 (122 min)

This film follows the life of Dante, a school bus driver who bears a striking resemblance to Johnny Stecchino, an Italian mafioso who is wanted by Sicilian mobsters for treason and murder. The film’s plot begins to unravel when Dante meets Maria, Stecchino’s wife, who begins her plan into tricking mobsters to kill Dante, thinking he is Stecchino. The film takes several unexpected twists when Maria begins to fall for Dante, and it becomes clear that Dante cannot possibly be the cold blooded killer, Johnny Stecchino. Wednesday, October 7, 2015, 6 PM @ Language Center (THH 309) La Doppia Ora / The Double Hour Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi, 2009 (102 min)

In this thriller, a chambermaid, Sonia, and an ex-cop, Guido, meet at a speed dating event. They strike up a friendship, and spend some time together after the event. As they part, Guido notices that the time is 23:23 - a double hour, when the hour and minute are the same. He believes that at such times, one may make a wish and it will be granted - although he admits to Sonia that it doesn’t always work. Yet later on, things suddenly take a dark turn during a romantic getaway. Wednesday, October 21, 2015, 6 PM @ Language Center (THH 309) Matrimonio All’Italiana / Marriage, Italian Style Directed by Vittorio De Sica, 1964 (102 min)

Domenico, a successful businessman, begins an affair with Filumena, a prostitute with three secret children. When Domenico plans to marry a young employee, Filumena tricks him into marriage by pretending to be dying. Domenico annuls the marriage, but then Filumena tells him that one of the three children is his, but will not say which one. Domenico will stop at nothing to find out which teenager might be his son. Monday, November 9, 2015, 6 PM @ Language Center (THH 309) Benvenuti al Sud / Welcome to the South Directed by Luca Miniero, 2011 (102 min)

Overwhelmed by his wife, a Northern postal worker feigns a disability to request a transfer to Milan but is sent for two years to a tiny village near Naples instead. He moves there alone, scared and full of the typical prejudices about the south, but he meets lovely people who make him feel at home. Now the challenge is to explain this to his wife, so he tries to make her believe that all the stereotypes about the south are true and that his life there is hell. Wednesday, December 2, 2015, 6 PM @ Language Center (THH 309) Pranzo di Ferragosto / Mid-August Lunch Directed by Gianni Di Gregorio, 2008 (75 min)

Gianni, a broken man with mounting debt, is forced to entertain his 93-year-old mother and three other feisty women during Italy’s biggest summer holiday, Ferragosto. The other women are the mothers of his landlord and doctor, who will forgive his debts in exchange for his service.

Pizza and refreshments will be served!

All film summaries from Imdb.com. The Italian Film Club offers an opportunity for students to discover a selection of Italian movies and to explore Italian culture and language. Movies are shown in Italian with English subtitles free of charge and all students enrolled in Italian language are welcome.