Mia Madre

(Nanni Moretti, Italy/France/Germany 2015, 107 min., 35mm, English & Italian w/subtitles)

Survey of Contemporary Italian Cinema | Rochester Premiere. Acclaimed Italian auteur Nanni Moretti finds comedy and pathos in the story of Margherita, a harried film director (Margherita Buy) trying to juggle the demands of her latest movie and a personal life in crisis. The star of her film, a charming but hammy American actor (John Turturro) imported for the production, initially presents nothing but headaches, and her crew is close to mutiny. Away from the shoot, Margherita tries to hold her life together as her beloved mother’s illness progresses, and her teenage daughter grows ever more distant. Characteristically self-reflexive and autobiographical, Moretti’s latest film speaks to the poignancy of human transience, how we process loss, and how we gain strength through humor.

Presented by Dr. Elisabetta Sanino D’Amanda, Italian Program Coordinator, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), with the support of the College of Liberal Arts and Dr. Keith Jenkins, Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity & Inclusion, RIT.

Also Showing: Sunday, March 5, 2 p.m.