Aug 31, 2011
SFFILM
Passione (Italy/USA 2010), John Turturro’s wild, colorful, sexy ode to the music and people of Naples, opens September 30 at the San Francisco Film Society’s new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema (1746 Post Street).
From lullabies to rock, contemporary love songs to traditional ballads, Neapolitan music has a long and storied history. In John Turturro’s ecstatic tribute these varied works are given distinct presentation and flavor. Weaving contemporary performances by singers such as M’Barka Ben Taleb and Lina Sastri with footage of past masters like Sergio Bruni and Renata Carasonni, the film beautifully demonstrates how the multicultural history of Naples has led to such a vast array of influences in its music. Vibrant and impressionistic, A.O. Scott called it one of the year’s must-see documentaries.
Written by John Turturro, Federico Vacalebre, Photographed by Marco Pontecorvo, with John Turturro, Mina, Spakka-Neapolis 55, Avion Travel. 91 min. In Italian, English, Neapolitan and Arabic with subtitles. Distributed by Abramorama. Visit sffs.org/cinema for showtimes.
John Turturro is expected to attend 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm screenings on October 3, and is available for limited advance phone interviews.
To request interviews and screeners contact hilary@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit: sffs.org/pressdownloads.
At Film Society Cinema, the supremely stylish state-of-the art theater located in the ultra-contemporary New People building at 1746 Post Street (Webster/Buchanan) in Japantown, the San Francisco Film Society will offer its acclaimed exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events on a daily year-round basis for the first time in the organization’s storied 54-year history. For complete up-to-date information on all Film Society Cinema programming, including buying tickets, visit sffs.org.
Upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Opens September 2: Film Socialisme Legendary director Jean-Luc Godard returns to the screen with a provocative essay on the decline of European civilization.
Opens September 9: Puzzle A middle-aged housewife, cherished by her husband and two sons but nevertheless taken for granted, discovers an aptitude for jigsaw puzzles in this beautifully modulated character portrait from Argentina.
Opens September 16: Aurora Romanian filmmaker Cristi Puiu destroys all notions of crime as entertainment in this painstakingly realistic anatomy of a crisis, delivering a chilling character study of an ordinary person driven to extremes.
September 22: Grand Opening of Film Society Cinema with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, sake ceremony, selection of short films and open house reception.
September 23-25: Hong Kong Cinema New in 2011, presenting recent works from one of the world’s most exciting film industries.
September 26: The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan Private McKinley Nolan vanished 40 years ago on the Cambodian frontier. In 2006, his younger brother travels from rural Texas to Vietnam to try to unravel the story in this moving documentary.
September 27: Film Arts Forum: The Sound of Cinema Bimonthly information-sharing, discussion, networking, professional development jamboree for the Bay Area film community.
September 28-29: Shaolin With a superstar cast including Andy Lau, Jackie Chan and Nicholas Tse, and the participation of a group of real Shaolin monks, this is an action-packed story of a ruthless warlord’s rehabilitation through Buddhist practice.
October 14-16: Taiwan Film Days A showcase of the best contemporary Taiwanese cinema.