Author Meet and Greet

Enjoy An Evening with Laura Benedetti, Ph.D.,
Chair of the Italian Department at Georgetown University

Dr. Benedetti will discuss her book, The Tigress in the Snow: Motherhood and Literature in Twentieth Century Italy.

The image of the "tigress in the snow," haunting and iconic, is the figure that frames Laura Benedetti's research on motherhood in Italy in the twentieth century. Benedetti derives it from Elsa Morante's La storia (1974) where one of the most memorable and tragic mothers of the twentieth century, Ida, is compared to a lonely tigress in the cold, who licks the snow to survive while biting off pieces of herself to feed her starving cubs. As Benedetti explains in the introduction, it is an image that merges "authority with self-immolation" and "effectively captures the risks and rewards of motherhood." Conceptually organized around this figure, The Tigress in the Snow provides a wealth of information and reflections on a very specific yet wide ranging topic and thoroughly engages with the question of what it means to be a mother, or to write about mothers, in Italy. -From a 2009 review by Silvia Valisa

Thursday, September 13, 2012
6:30pm - 8:30pm

NIAF Building
1860 19th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009

Gentlemen always welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

NOIAW Members: $5 ~ Non-Members, Friends, and Guests: $10
Undergraduate NOIAW members are complimentary with ID

Click here if you can not attend but would like to contribute to NOIAW's cultural and educational programs

RSVP by email to noiaw@noiaw.org or call 212-642-2003

"The Missing Piece" Private Film Screening with Filmmaker, Joe Medeiros

You're cordially invited to a private film screening of...  

The Missing Piece: 

The Truth About the Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa

 

Genre: Documentary 

Director: Joe Medeiros (in attendance for Q&A) 

Duration: 86 min. 

In English, Italian and French with English subtitles. 

Film Synopsis: This is the story of the man who stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, his 84-year-old daughter who thought he did it for patriotic reasons, and the filmmaker who spent more than 30 years trying to find the truth for himself, and now for her.

For 17 years, Joe Medeiros was head writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. But for twice that long he’s been preoccupied with the Mona Lisa heist. For the last several years he and his wife Justine have been working together on a documentary which they’re calling The Missing Piece. We know that the thief was an Italian laborer, Vincenzo Peruggia, who had worked at the Louvre. What we don’t know is if he had accomplices or if he stole the painting at the direction of anyone else, though at his trial, where he was convicted, he insisted that he did it alone. But the Medeiroses tracked down Peruggia’s descendants in Italy, found the Paris apartment where he stashed the painting for years and turned up some new correspondence which they believe fills in the blanks.

A contribution of $15.00 per person provides an opportunity to:

• meet the filmmakers Joe Medeiros, his wife Justine and some members of the film cast and crew;
• enjoy a Q&A session with the filmmakers; 
• enjoy a wonderful post-film reception with food prepared by Chef Vincenzo D'arista.  The menu will include pasta al forno, insalata di carote, and tiramisu al limoncello; 
• meet a lot of nice people! 

We look forward to you joining us for a truly exceptional evening! Spread the word, and invite your friends!

Spread the word, and invite your friends! RSVP required. Click here to RSVP.

Cineforum Italiano: Vallanzasca, Angels of Evil

Director Michele Placido and actor Kim Rossi Stuart team up to tell the tale of notorious Italian outlaw Renato Vallanzasca, whose penchant for bold crimes, daring prison breaks, and extravagant showmanship transformed him into an underworld celebrity in the 1970s. Vallanzasca was just nine years old when he and a group of mischievous friends snuck into a local circus to free a tiger, but that fateful day marked the beginning of a spectacular criminal career. Subsequently sent to a juvenile detention facility, Vallanzasca soon rounded up a gang comprised of familiar deviants upon his release, and quickly rose through the ranks of Italy's criminal elite. With the stunning Consuelo (Valeria Solarino) by Vallanzasca's side, not even San Vittore can hold the slippery desperado. And though Vallanzasca's gang would live the high life for a while, the impulsive leader would ultimately seal his own fate when he ruthlessly killed two policemen in a Dalmine tool booth. Having made a sworn enemy out of rival gangster Francis Turatello (Francesco Scianna), Vallanzasca strives to end the rivalry after being incarcerated in Rebibbia Prison. In and out of prison in the decades that followed, Vallanzasca found his life as a fugitive drawing to a close after reconnecting with his old friend Antonella D'Agostino (Paz Vega), whom he would later wed in a civil ceremony.

Genre: Drama

Director: Michele Placido

Released: 2010

Duration: 125 min.

In Italian with English subtitles.

Event Schedule:

• 5:00 pm: Sign in, enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks during the film.
• 5:15 pm: Program begins with introductions and film
• 7:15 pm: The film will be followed by small reception with gelato which provides an opportunity to socialize and discuss the film.
  

Tickets:

• $10 for members of Passatempo. Click to RSVP.
• $15 for non-members (cash only, no credit/debit card processing)

Trailer:


Film Reviews:

• Movie review in English.
• Hollywood Reporter Review.
• In italiano.

Getting to Letelier Theater: Street parking is free on Sundays. There's also a parking garage available directly next to the theater on Prospect Street for $5/hr. There are several public transportation options. The theater website describes the options in detail: http://leteliertheater.com/directions/

CiaoDC's June Events

Through June 24: Servant of Two Masters, Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, DC
June 3: Festa Della Repubblica, Mass, Holy Rosary Church, Washington, DC
June 7: Cooking Class, Casa Italiana, Washington, DC
June 9 & 10: St. Leo's Italian Festival, Little Italy - Baltimore, MD
June 17: Little Italy Lodge Shrimp Feast, Baltimore, MD
June 21: Cooking Class, Casa Italiana, Washington, DC
June 23: Olio Tasting Room Anniversary event



Coming in July: Tales of Marriage and Mozzerella, tickets on sale June 18th!

Cineforum Italiano: Scialla! (Take it Easy)

At Letelier Theater in Georgetown on June 3rd at 4:00pm Passatempo will be screening a delightful, award-winning comedy from Italy about an unlikely coexistence between a father and his newly-discovered teenage son.  It's an early Father's Day Celebration.

Bruno (Fabrizio Bentivoglio) has lost all zest for life - his career is flagging and his passion for teaching has become an apathetic routine with equally uninterested students, including 15-year-old Luca. One day Luca's mother reveals a secret that turns Bruno's life upside down: Luca is his son. Awkward.

This is classic comedy served up Italian style - warm and funny but never over-sentimental or patronizing. "Scialla" is Roman slang for "take it easy", and this film is pretty much just that. Not loud or vulgar but simple and amusing. Al dente!

Genre: Comedy

Director: Francesco Bruni

Released: 2011

Duration: 95 min.

In Italian with English subtitles.

Event Schedule:

• June 3, 2012 at Letelier Theater in Georgetown. 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC UPPER COURTARD.
• 4:00 pm: Sign in, enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks during the film. 
• 4:15 pm: Program begins with introductions and film 
• 6:15 pm: The film will be followed by small reception which provides an opportunity to socialize and discuss the film.
  

Price:

• $10 for members of Passatempo.  Click here to RSVP.  
• $15 for non-members (cash only, no credit/debit card processing)

Trailer:

A Wine & Food Tour of Tuscany

Do you enjoy wine and food from the Tuscany region of Italy?  You may want to consider joining Passatempo and Chef Vincenzo D'arista on a very special tour of Tuscany this fall.   

The trip will be September 28 - October 7, 2012.

Chef Vincenzo, who has lived and worked in Tuscany, will be your private chef and tour guide for the week. You'll be introduced to chefs, winemakers and the wonderful people of Tuscany. It promises to be the kind of experience that comes through traveling with an insider. 

June 15 is the deadline for trip registration. 

The trip will cost $3,900 per person which includes airfare, accommodations, ground transportation and most meals during the trip.  There's a $350 single supplement.  A 10% discount being offered when two people register at the same time and a 25% discount when four people register at the same time. For more details and to contact the tour leaders, click here.

These are some brief highlights from the "Tastes of Tuscany Tour" being offered by Passatempo:

• The food at the Duca di Orvieto restaurant in Orvieto is fresh and all handmade using local products and carefully researched traditional recipes from the renaissance times.  The group will enjoy lunch there on the first day of the trip during a stopover between Rome and the Estate of Monaciano.  Monaciano is where the group will be lodging for the eight nights of the trip. The Estate is only 7 km from the historic center of Siena, nestled between the hills of the Chianti.
• The group will experience one of those Italian traditions that you just have to see for yourself: The Grape Festival in Impruneta.  The parade happens on the last Sunday in September every year. The town of Impruneta is world-famous for its production of terracotta.
• Siena is a masterpiece in medieval architecture and home to beautiful traditions.  The group will enjoy the day in Siena and in the evening they'll go way off the beaten path through a nature reserve to experience home-made pizza from a wood-burning oven deep in the Tuscan countryside under bright stars.
• Monte Amiata is the highest mountain in Tuscany and a tour of the area is an unforgettable highlight.  This solitary mountain in the very heart of the region rises between the valleys of the Orcia, the Fiora, and the Paglia, and is the result of powerful volcanic eruptions that occurred between 180 and 290 million years ago.
• The "not-to-be-missed" famous hilltop towns of Volterra and San Gimigniano will be visited with local guides.
• San Giusto a Rentennano is a world-class winery that isn't typically visited by tourists but the group will meet the owners and enjoy lunch with local foods.  The winery visit is followed by a trip to visit the best castle in Tuscany and birthplace of Chianti wine: Brolio Castle.  The group will tour the museum, the gardens, enjoy the spectacular views and taste traditional recipes with dinner on the castle grounds.
• A free day to explore Italy's renaissance city of Florence followed by dinner at the home of an incredible chef.
• Of course, no visit to Tuscany would be complete without a visit to one of Italy's most well-known symbols: The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• The group returns on Sunday, October 7. The traditional Columbus Day holiday in the United States is on October 8 which provides an opportunity to rest before returning to work.

About Passatempo

The mission of Passatempo is to promote an appreciation of Italian language and culture through Italian language lessons, cooking lessons, film, art, music, literature, wine tastings, sports, travel and social engagement. We help people with a strong interest in Italy connect with one another, both online and in person. Membership is FREE and we're open to all levels of Italian language from zero to native fluency. The club is based in our Nation's Capital of Washington, DC with events in Dupont Circle, Friendship Heights and other neighborhoods all around DC.

CiaoDC May Calendar

Welcome to beautiful May!  There are so many fabulous events to share with you this month, we barely know where to start.  Mark your calendar for a month of everything Italian...plus an Italian Style Mother's Day that's worth writing home about to Mamma!  Check facebook and twitter for give aways and special events for The Servant of Two Masters and Hamlechino!  WIN TICKETS TO SERVANT OF TWO MASTER HERE!

Through May 19: Hamlecchino, CiaoDC.com discount Code: CIAO ($20 ticket offer)Through May 31: Constantino Nivola: 100 years of Creativity, Embassy of Italy
May 7: Caravaggio: Interpretations of His Life in Film, National Gallery of Art5555
May 9: La Prima Cosa Bella, Embassy of Italy
May 10: Aperitivo at I Ricchi, Italians in DC
May 10-May 30: Everywhere Nowhere Exhibition, Embassy of Italy
May 12: Peabody Opera Class Does Puccini, presented by Lyric Opera Cabaret Series
May 12: European Union Embassies Open House, Embassy of Italy
May 13: Mother's Day at DaMimmo's - Little Italy, Baltimore.  Enjoy special discounts and complimentary dessert for Mother's only!
May 13: Mother's Day Sparkling Brunch at Cafe Milano
May 15: Frescoes Step by Step, Embassy of Italy
May 15-June 24: Carlo Goldoni's commedia dell'arte The Servant of Two Masters, Shakespeare Theatre Company
May 17, 24: Casa Italiana Cooking Classes, Casa Italiana Language School
May 18: In the Light of Naples: Francesco de Mura in America, Embassy of Italy
May 20: Highlandtown Wine Festival, Baltimore, MD
May 20: Opera Night at Sotto Sopra
May 20: Italians in DC Festival, Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Free Admission - tickets for apertivio and wine tasting available; volunteers wanted!
May 23: SIF's 24th Annual National Education Leadership Awards Gala, National Building Museum
May 23: Winemakers Dinner at Germano's, Baltimore, MD
May 24 - June 12: Paintings from Accademia Carrara, Embassy of Italy