12/05/2003

Italian cinema is performing well on the domestic market. From December 2002 to May 2003, four of the top seven films were “Made in Italy”: Natale sul Nilo took the number one slot, folllowed by comic trio Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo’s La leggenda di Al, John & Jack [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Ferzan Ozpetek’s La finestra di fronte [+see also:
trailer
interview: Ferzan Ozpetek
film profile] came sixth with Gabriele Muccino’s Ricordati di me [+see also:
trailer
film profile] seventh. Similar results have not been seen since 1991/92 when five Italian titles were in the top ten: Johnny Stecchino, Donne con le gonne, Vacanze di natale ‘91, Pensavo fosse amore invece era un calesse and Maledetto il giorno che ti ho incontrato.

A market analysis published by Giornale dello Spettacolo reveals that 14.8million cinema tickets were sold for Italian productions between December 2002 and May 2003, against 7.8million 18 months earlier and their domestic market share now stands at 30.4 per cent, a significant increase on the previous 19 per cent. The last time Italian films broke the 30 per cent barrier of the domestic market was in 1987/88, thanks largely to Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor.

Carlo Verdone’s latest film, Ma che colpa abbiamo noi [+see also:
trailer
film profile] was a hit, and came 14th, with a gross box office take of Euros5m, according to Cinetel data. Gabriele Salvatores’ Io non ho paura [+see also:
trailer
interview: Gabriele Salvatores
film profile] was 23rd with a take of Euros3.8m while Roberto Faenza’s Prendimi l'anima [+see also:
interview: Roberto Faenza
film profile] was 24th with Euros3.5m.
Although Italian audiences are once more choosing to see local productions, continues the Giornale dello Spettacolo article, the effective number of films that do well at the box office remains low albeit an improvement on recent years, the hardest hit being independent productions distributed by companies that struggle to find programming slots.

(Translated from Italian)