06/12/2006

New York’s prestigious Museum of Modern Art has chosen to pay homage to Italian director Paolo Virzì – who with his co-scriptwriter Francesco Bruni has portrayed the tics and habits of contemporary Italy in his biting comedies – with a “mid-career” retrospective of six films, from 1994’s Living it Up to Caterina in the Big City [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2003).

"Paolo Virzì in Mid-Career" (December 15-30) will kick off at MoMA with the screening of Ferie d'agosto (1996). The only title excluded from the programme is the director’s latest film, N.: Napoleon & Me [+see also:
trailer
film profile],which has been picked up by a US distributor who will release it theatrically in April 2007.

"Mid-career? Actually, I thought I was only at the beginning,” admitted an amused Virzì to CinecittàNews. “But I’m already beginning to put on airs for this tribute, which is being bestowed upon me by one of the most prestigious museums in the world. In New York, contemporary Italian cinema has a surprising following, which impresses me. Just like I’m impressed by the very gratifying reviews that Americans always give our films".

The retrospective was organized by MoMA’s Film Department curator Jytte Jensen with the collaboration of Cinecittà Holding and Italian Institute of Culture of New York. Virzì will be present at the December 15-17 screenings.

(Translated from Italian)