Cinema Francesco Alliata: 3 Short Movies about Sicily

An unusual insight into the history, culture, and nature of Sicily â?? at the Cineteatro Francesco Alliata.

A look to the local civilization, the heritage of art and landscape of Sicily, "island world" through 3 stunning shorts made by Panagia Film, between 1946 and 1949.


Info & Booking

Cineteatro Francesco Alliata
Via Cardinale Dusmet sn, c/o Vecchia Dogana, Catania (CT).

A look to the local civilization, the heritage of art and landscape of Sicily, "island world" through 3 stunning shorts made by Panagia Film, between 1946 and 1949.

Shows:

From Tuesday to Sunday at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00.

Languages: Italian and English according to the public

Reservations must be made at least 3 business days ahead for single visitors, at least 7 days for groups.

Cancellation policy: it is possible to cancel up to 3 days before the visit in order to be refunded the cost of tickets minus service fee. Further cancellations and no shows are no refundable.

Cinema Francesco Alliata: 3 Short Movies about Sicily

Films shown in rotation:

  • Underwater Hunters (1946)
  • Island of Ashes (1947)
  • Tuna-Fishery (1947)
  • Between Sicily and Charybdis (1948)
  • Opera dei Pupi – Sicilian Marionette Theater (1948)
  • White Aeolian Islands (1947)

A more detailed description of the short films follows below.

Underwater Hunters

This was the first documentary for the “ragazzi (kids) of Panaria Film,” and one of the first films about spearfishing in Italy, which was not yet known as a sport. Thanks to their underwater shots - taken with an especially designed 35mm camera – and much breath (scuba diving gear was not developed then!), this short film is a truly captivating journey back in time. Shot entirely in the Aeolian Islands, destinations unknown to tourism at that time, the film also shows the beautiful archipelago for the first time – islands which were later featured in Rossellini's "Stromboli” starring Ingrid Bergman (1949/51), and William Dieterle's "Volcano" (1949), which starred Anna Magnani.

Genre: Short Film

Director and Actors: Francesco Alliata, Renzo Avanzo, Quintino di Napoli, Pietro Moncada, Giovanni Mazza

Photography: Francesco Alliata

Editing: Carlo Alberto Chiesa

Music: Renzo Rossellini

Production: Edizioni Fortuna Roma

Distribution: Filmoteca Regionale Siciliana (2006)

Country: Italy 1946

Duration: 11 Min

Format: black and white, 35mm

Notes:

Presented in competition at the Cannes Film Festival (1947).

Restored in 2006 by the Sicilian Regional CRICD-film library in collaboration with the film library of the city of Bologna.

 

Islands of Ashes

Documentary on the Aeolian islands dedicated to the still active volcanoes on Vulcano and Stromboli, their craters and fumaroles at the summit, the harsh life of the few inhabitants near the sea, and how they survive in the constant presence of danger.

Genre: Short Film

Direction: Quintino di Napoli, Pietro Moncada, Francesco Alliata

Photography: Fosco Maraini

Editing: Carlo Alberto Chiesa

Production: Panaria Film

Distribution: Filmoteca Regionale Siciliana (2006)

Country: Italy 1947

Duration: 12 min

Format: black and white, 35mm

Notes:

Restored in 2006 by the Sicilian Regional cricd-film library in collaboration with the film library of the city of Bologna.

 

Tuna-Fishery

A documentary about the ancient Sicilian tradition of fishing for tuna in the Mediterranean. The ancient tradition consists of many phases, but the best known and most brutal is the so-called mattanza (massacre). Here, the final moment in the epic battle between man and the animal is shown in a scene filled with deafening screams and noises of death recorded on one of the very first tape recorders.

Genre: Short Film

Direction: Quintino di Napoli, Pietro Moncada, Francesco Alliata

Screenplay: Marcella Rossellini

Photography: Francesco Alliata

Editing: Carlo Alberto Chiesa

Musiche: Renzo Rossellini

Production: Panaria Film

Distribution: Filmoteca Regionale Siciliana (2006)

Country: Italy 1947

Duration: 12 min

Format: black and white, 35mm

Notes:

Restored in 2006 by the Sicilian Regional cricd-film library in collaboration with the film library of the city of Bologna.

 

Between Sicily and Charybdis

Master Simone and his men leave Ganzirri on the Strait of Messina at dawn. Aboard the Luntro, they engage in the age-old tradition of the battle with the swordfish. This fishing tradition practiced here for over 2000 years is a chivalrous and romantic competition between man and the king of fish in the Mediterranean. The stillness of waiting, the heat and fatigue of the chase, the blow of the harpoon – all are represented in this moving short film and made extraordinary thanks to the authentic sound track.

Genre: Short Film Direction: Quintino Di Napoli, Pietro Moncada, Francesco Alliata

Actor: Corrado Mantoni

Photography: Francesco Alliata

Editing: Carlo Alberto Chiesa

Music: Renzo Rossellini

Production: Panaria Film

Distribution: Filmoteca Regionale Siciliana (2006)

Country: Italy 1948

Duration: 12 Min

Format: black and white, 35mm

Notes:

Restored in 2006 by the Sicilian Regional CRICD-film library in collaboration with the film library of the city of Bologna.

 

Opera dei Pupi – Sicilian Marionette Theater

The popular Sicilian Opera dei Pupimarionette theater is now in danger of extinction. It is a theatrical practice that the UNESCO declared part of the "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" (in 2001). This short film narrates the fabulous stories of the paladins of France and of the Trojan War in an imaginative and original interpretation with the sumptuous pupi played in the temples of Segesta, Selinunte, and Agrigento.

Genre: Short Film

Direction: Frederic Maeder

Photography: Quintino Di Napoli, Pietro Moncada, Francesco Alliata, Fosco Maraini

Production: Panaria Film

Distribution: Filmoteca Regionale Siciliana (2006)

Country: Italy 1948

Duration: 12 Min

Format: black and white, 35mm

Notes:

Restored in 2006 by the Sicilian Regional Cricd-Film Library in cooperation with the Film Library of the City of Bologna.

 

White Aeolian Islands

Within the volcanic and mostly black archipelago of the Aeolian Islands, the chiaroscuro of the island of Panarea and the pumice of Lipari with its white beaches form a sharp contrast. The film captures small but significant details of a place isolated from the world - the women of Panarea waiting for their emigrated men to return, and the frugality of life on the island illustrate primordial rhythms and essential existence. At the same time, the few residents of Lipari work in the hell of the white pumice quarries to earn their ticket to leave. A glimpse of the Aeolian Islands more than fifty years ago.

Genre: Short Film

Direction: Quintino Di Napoli, Pietro Moncada, Renzo Avanzo

Photography: Fosco Maraini

Editing: Carlo Alberto Chiesa

Production: Panaria Film/Edizioni Fortuna Roma

Distribution: Filmoteca Regionale Siciliana (2006)

Country: Italy 1947

Duration: 12 Min

Format: black and white, 35mm

Notes:

Restored in 2006 by the Sicilian Regional Cricd-Film Library in cooperation with the Film Library of the City of Bologna.

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