ITALIAN AND CINEMA
Female Portraits in Italy During the Economic Boom
"Female Portraits in Italy During the Economic Boom" is the title of the Lis 2026 film week.
The films we will be analyzing are Matrimonio all'italiana by Vittorio De Sica and Io la conoscevo bene by Antonio Pietrangeli (1965), both shot in the mid-1960s, at the height of the economic boom, two masterpieces of Italian cinema that offer us very different perspectives on women.
The story of Matrimonio all'italiana, which is that of "Filomena Marturano", the play by the great playwright Eduardo De Filippo from which the film is adapted, is set in Naples, with leading actress the magnificent Sophia Loren as "Donna Filomena", a determined and resolute former prostitute: what she wants is a "normal life", in other words... marriage and children. Alongside her, in the role of the unrepentant womanizer, is the formidable Marcello Mastroianni.
The film is directed by Vittorio De Sica, actor, screenwriter, director, considered one of the fathers of neorealism, one of the most influential artists in the history of Italian cinema, who received two Oscar nominations for this film (best foreign film and best actress).
The character of "Adriana" in Io la conoscevo bene – one of Stefania Sandrelli's most famous and intense performances – is a girl from the provinces, totally uninterested in the role of wife (and mother?), an aspiring actress, constantly seeking her fortune in Rome, where la dolce vita is bitter for her.
The film is directed by Antonio Pietrangeli, one of the great forgotten directors and screenwriters of Italian cinema, a keen observer of social changes in Italy during the economic boom, with particular attention to the evolution of the female figure.
Duration: one week.
Planned dates in 2026: 13 April (Fully booked), 21 September (Fully booked), 23 November.
Linguistic level: Minimum level of knowledge of the Italian language required to participate in this course: B2 (advanced level).
Minimum number of participants: 2
The week program: From Monday to Friday, in the morning: group lessons (maximum 10 participants) reserved for those enrolled in this course (20 hours of lessons in total). In addition to the morning lessons, participants will also be occupied on three afternoons and for a dinner together.
Course price: 650€ (includes language tuition and all the afternoon activities).
For information and enrolment write to luccaitalianschool@gmail.com
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