For its 60th anniversary, the “Rencontre cinema de Pézenas” honors the 7th Italian art

At the same time as the César 2023 ceremony was taking place in Paris, miles away the inhabitants of Pézenas had the choice of opting for a more intimate evening celebrating cinema. For the opening of the 60th edition of the Cinema Meeting, the Molière hall in Pézenas was packed. For a week, it is the cinema of the “Bel paese” which is honored by this event. An opportunity for the French public to discover emblematic works of the 7th Italian art. “What is fantastic with Italian cinema is that it remains timeless. We make it travel through our memories of a more classic Italian cinema to a more contemporary cinema which is in the spotlight at the festival”explains Julien Paolini, Franco-Italian director.

“The French love Italy, they love to eat Italian, go on vacation in Italy and watch Italian films, I’m always surprised to see very full theaters in front of Italian works”, adds Julien Paolini. In total, 31 transalpine films out of about forty will be found in the Molière room. Prestigious speakers are expected, in particular the lecturer Luisa Prudentino, who will approach Italian cinematography through an analytical prism. The actress and director Myriam Boyer will also be on hand to talk about her link with the 7th art.

Exchanges and favorites

A festival led each year by a team of volunteers, who offer moments of discovery, but also times of exchange between spectators and actors from the film industry. “There is the history of Italian cinema. In the 1960s and 1970s, the latter was so much in the spotlight, so important. Then there was a slight downturn. But for many spectators this anteriority still remains present”says Martine Lassalle, president of the Federation of Mediterranean Film Clubs.

Friday, February 24, the film The Stolen Children by Gianni Amelio released in 1992 was presented as part of the event. The story of a Sicilian accused of prostituting her 11-year-old daughter. After the session, the spectators seem touched. “I find that it’s a rather delicate subject and little highlighted in the cinema, so I found it super interesting”, says a young girl.

“The Meetings of Pézenas“, until March 2.