16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul

Saturday, March 1 at 11:00am • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni

ABOUT THE FILM  (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles)

One of Italy’s most important, beautiful yet widely unknown films of the 1960s and a fascinating, multi-layered portrait of Italian society during those years, “Io la conoscevo bene” immerses the audience in the vibrant world of Rome, echoing the atmosphere of “La Dolce Vita”, while offering a critical, incisive perspective on the culture of fame and sexual politics in Italy at the time.

Pietrangeli, alongside co-writers Ruggero Maccari and Ettore Scola (director of IFF’s 2023 sold out premiere “We all loved each other so much”), crafts a complex character study of a young country girl/actress wannabe navigating a world of superficiality and exploitation that is by turns funny, tragic, and altogether jaw-dropping. The portrayal of Adriana, marked by her shifting fashions, hairstyles, and the ever-changing whims of her many, contradictory desires, is considered one of the greatest career achievements of actress and icon Stefania Sandrelli. The sophistication of actor Ugo Tognazzi’s talent as Adriana’s sleazy agent, the extraordinary black and white cinematography by Armando Nannuzzi and a brilliant, original score by Piero Piccioni mixed with some of the most famous pop tracks by Mina, Peppino di Capri and Sergio Endrigo are just a few of the many other reasons not to miss this unparalleled achievement of Italian filmmaking. “Io la conoscevo bene” is a film that captures the energy and contradictions of its era with sharp wit, emotional depth, and startling realism. It’s a work that speaks to the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, while also celebrating the allure and superficiality of the glamorous world of 1960s Italy. With its mix of comedy, tragedy, and social critique, the film defies any genre, was way ahead of its time, was too modern and contemporary to be fully understood at the time of its release,  and stands as the highest example of Antonio Pietrangeli’s innovative and visionary directing. Winner of three Nastri D’Argento in 1966 for Best Director (Antonio Pietrangeli), Best Screenplay (Antonio Pietrangeli, Ettora Scola, Ruggero Maccari), Best Supporting Actor (Ugo Tognazzi).

Part of IFF's IN FOCUS Section: SHAPING CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN CINEMA: FRANCESCO BRUNI

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Antonio Pietrangeli (Roma, 1919 - Gaeta, 1968) was an Italian director and screenwriter. He started in the film industry by writing movie reviews for Italian cinema magazines, and went on to become one of the most renowned Italian directors. In his short career he made 13 movies including “Lo scapolo” (1955, starring Alberto Sordi and Nino Manfredi) ,“Adua e le compagne” (1960), an extraordinary, political movie about the lives of four prostitutes after brothels were declared illegal by law in 1958 starring Sandra Milo, Simone Signoret, Emmanuelle Riva and Marcello Mastroianni, “La Parmigiana” (1963, starring Catherine Spaak and Nino Manfredi), Il magnifico cornuto (1964, starring Claudia Cardinale and Ugo Tognazzi). He won one Nastro D’Argento for Best Director for “Io la conoscevo bene - I knew her well’ (1965).

TICKET INFO

Single Movies
$14.00 General Admission (+ $2.00 online fee)
$12.00 ICC and Film Society Members
$5.00 Students (Box Office Only)

Passes:
All-Access Festival Pass (Opening Night included):
$110.00 General Admission (+ $3.25 online fee)
$95.00 ICC and Film Society Members, Students
6-Packs Passes (does not include Opening Night):
$65.00 General Admission (+ $2.00 online fee)
$55.00 ICC and Film Society Members, Students

Passes do not guarantee admission to screenings. To ensure admittance, passholders must reserve a ticket in advance either online or at the venue.