Tag: Film

Massimo Troisi: spaghetti with artichokes from “Il Postino” – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

The postmanof and with Massimo Troisi, is one of the most appreciated films in the history of Italian cinema and among the most loved in Massimo Troisi’s filmography. Also because, a few days after the end of filming, in 1994, Troisi died of a heart attack. 71 years after his birth (19 February 1953), we want to celebrate him with the dish he prepared on the set of the film The postman: they are the spaghetti with artichokes by Mario Ruoppoloname of the character he played in the film.

Neruda’s postman

The film, directed by Michael Radford and by Troisi himself, is taken from the novel Neruda’s postmanwritten by the Chilean author Antonio Skarmeta. The film adaptation of the novel was strongly supported by the Neapolitan artist (indeed, born in San Giorgio a Cremano, on the outskirts of the city), who soon purchased the rights and asked Michael Radford to direct it. For this film he also renounced heart surgery, so as not to lose the presence of Philippe Noiret, the protagonist of the film with him.

From Pollara beach…

Among the many evocative and indelible places in the memory of those who have seen it The postmanthere is definitely there golden beach of Pollara in Salina, nestled between a high rock face and a fairytale sea, where Troisi and the poet Neruda, played by Philippe Noiret, throw pebbles towards the sea. Right in the municipality of Malfa, overlooking Pollara, stands the Locanda del Postino, a small accommodation facility with 10 rooms furnished in Aeolian style, inside the former home of the town’s parish priest. Here Mauro and Amelia, together with their children Francesco and Mariachiara, also run a small restaurant. «It was 1985 when my wife and I fell in love and, after studying in Messina, in February 1994 we decided to move to Salina, says Mauro. At that time Troisi was filming The postman, hence the name of the structure. In business since 2000, the dishes offered by Mrs. Amelia are based on local ingredients. «Capers are famous in Pollara, but also the siccagno tomato, which dries on the plant, and then fish at will, only the catch of the day. Like the albacore tartare with crunchy celery and capers or the pasta with siccagni tomatoes and caper pesto, up to the traditional desserts entrusted to the expert hands of daughter Mariachiara.

… to the island of Procida

There is also another place that bears the same name, but which is located on another island, where most of the scenes of Troisi’s film were filmed. Too bad, however, that the Postman’s inn in Procida it closed its doors last November. Right here, on the port, in front of the piled up nets of the fishermen, the love between was born Mario Ruopolo (Massimo Troisi) e Beatriceplayed by a very young girl Maria Grazia Cucinotta. At the Locanda del Postino it was possible to have dinner or stop for a coffee amidst the creaking of the fishermen’s boats and the atmosphere of the village. Inside the tavern, an entire wall was dedicated to celebrating the film with images, quotes and even the brown bag, the same one used in the filming. Here then is the recipe that Mario Ruoppolo prepared for Beatrice. A simple dish, made with love, in memory of the great figure of Massimo Troisi.

Spaghetti with artichokes Mario Ruoppolo style

Ingredients

500 g of spaghetti
6 artichokes
400 g of ripe or peeled tomatoes
1 clove of garlic
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
fresh basil
fresh parsley
Salt to taste
pepper as needed

Method

Clean the artichokes by removing the hardest outer leaves, cut them into slices and place them in a pan with the oil and garlic. Let them simmer for a few minutes and add the diced tomatoes.
Cook for half an hour, season with salt and pepper, flavor with a few basil leaves and parsley (or even without anything).
When the artichokes are cooked, season the spaghetti cooked al dente in plenty of salted water.

Honey supply chain: the secret world of Italian beekeepers – Italian Cuisine

There director of the documentary, Rosy Sinicropi, shares his point of view on the life of beekeepers: «Since I started telling the stories of beekeepers through images, I have perceived an “invisible” humanity, almost always behind the scenes, but resolute in its presence. From the beginning I saw strength, tiredness, resistance, passion, even a bit of madness. I heard stories of fathers, of loves, of defeats, of changes, of pain and satisfaction and, unexpectedly, in the epilogue of these stories, I found “poetry”. It’s as if the bees were traveling companions who allowed those I met to look at themselves and the world with an ever new perspective.”

The documentary Voices of invisible people offers us one unique perspective on the life of beekeepers in Italy. There are 15 video testimonials who guide us through different environments in different regions of the Peninsula, from Piedmont to Sicily. These testimonies also show us the work of the “nomadic gatherers”, who follow the blooms to allow the bees to produce fine and unique honey. The documentary is an authentic reportage that recounts the daily challenges that beekeepers face while living in harmony with nature, trying to protect bees and our well-being in every ecosystem.

Voices of invisible people is available in full on the website www.storiediapicoltori.it, offering a unique opportunity to discover the lives and stories of the “guardians of nature” who keep the Italian beekeeping tradition alive. This documentary is a tribute to the dedication of those who have chosen to dedicate their lives to bees and to the promotion of a sustainable honey culture.

What is CONAPI and what does it do

CONAPI is the largest beekeeping cooperative in Europe, with around 600 beekeepers, 100 thousand hives, of which almost half are organic, and as many as 5 billion bees throughout Italy. This cooperative has an office in Monterenzio, in the province of Bologna, and is a point of reference for the production and promotion of high quality honey. CONAPI is committed to connecting beekeeping with people through innovative and cultural initiatives.

Vanity Fair Special: the Venice Film Festival – Italian Cuisine

"Vanity Fair" celebrates the 77th Venice International Film Festival with a special issue entirely dedicated to the rebirth of the city that hosts it, an exclusive dinner, three events in streaming and with a series of daily interviews with the characters present in the lagoon that can be followed by all readers on the magazine's social profiles

Love letter to Venice: this is the title of the issue of “Vanity Fair” – already newsstands since Wednesday 2 September, the opening day of the Festival – entirely dedicated to the rebirth of the city of the lagoon. A new beginning marked by Cinema Exhibition, the first major international event organized after the pandemic.
On the cover one of the most popular actresses of Italian cinema, Anna Foglietta, who as godmother will lead the opening and closing evening of the Festival and who writes a love letter to Venice for "Vanity Fair".

"Bent from the high water of November and even more brought to its knees by Covid-19, in our opinion this city has a lot to say about the future of Italy. First of all for its ability to revive after each rehearsal: it is no coincidence that it was here that it was decided to hold the first real cultural event, the new Mostra di Arte Cinematografica, an event conceived on the sly, but destined to become a symbol of resistance Explains the director of“ Vanity Fair ”Simone Marchetti. "In Venice, then, many stories of patronage, craftsmanship, social and intelligent use of social media, rethinking tourism and returning to traditions with an investment in new technologies are making us reflect: we will tell you in this issue as if they were a love letter to a city that can become the beacon of many necessary changes .

In the pages of the issue some representatives of the institutions talk about the rebirth of the city: from the mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro to the president of the Venice Biennale Roberto Cicutto, up to the artistic director of the Venice International Film Festival Alberto Barbera, who tells how the he need to bring people back to cinemas led to the decision not to cancel the Festival, which this year includes many women. To these voices are added those of young Venetians, who in the lockdown phase have imagined a new future for the city, and those of some artisans representing the excellence of the city. The protagonists of the issue are also the characters expected in the Lagoon such as the actress Ludivine Sagnier, member of the jury; Pietro Castellitto making his directorial debut with a film in the “Horizons” section and the directors Elisa Fuksas and Susanna Nicchiarelli.

Vanity Fair Special: the Venice Film Festival.

To celebrate this special issue, Thursday 3 September "Vanity Fair" organizes the exclusive dinner Venice Reanaissance – Celebrating Italian Future together with Tendercapital Productions, a film production company belonging to the Tendercapital Group which is in competition at the Venice International Film Festival with Our father. A film by Claudio Noce with Pierfrancesco Favino, Barbara Ronchi, Mattia Garaci, Francesco Gheghi and the friendly participation of Antonio Gerardi and Francesco Colella. The film tells a true story and is set in Rome in 1976. Valerio (Mattia Garaci) is ten years old when he witnesses the attack on his father Alfonso (Pierfrancesco Favino) by a terrorist commando. And it is precisely in that dark period that Valerio meets Christian (Francesco Gheghi). A friendship that will change their lives forever.
The director of the weekly Simone Marchetti and the president of Tendercapital Moreno Zani will welcome the highly selected guests in the spaces of the Antichi Granai of the Hotel Cipriani.

"Vanity Fair" also on this occasion confirms itself as a real stage to tell the stories of the protagonists of the cinema and does so together with Campari, main sponsor of the Festival for the third consecutive year, which in this edition will present a series of appointments with the goal of stimulating dialogue between the experience of already established talents and the innovative vision of the youngest. To celebrate the young talents of this fascinating world, Juju Di Domenico, Rocco Fasano and Riccardo Mandolini will be the protagonists of three digital “Vanity Fair Stage”: the format created to personally involve the artists who populate the pages of the newspaper every week. The appointments, hosted in the Campari space at the Biennale Terrace, will be held on 9 September at 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 respectively. To watch the streaming, simply log on to vanitystage.vanityfair.it.
Furthermore, the editorial staff of “Vanity Fair” will meet every day some of the most important actors present in the Lagoon who will talk about their most intimate Venice, the one they are most connected to. A series of interviews in which they will tell not only about the city from their point of view, but also about their emotions linked to the Film Festival. It will be possible to follow #VeneziaConfidential through the social profiles of “Vanity Fair”.