In this episode Russ and Ken discuss three of the earliest films made by director Vittorio de Sica, Sciusia (Shoeshine, 1946), Ladri di Biciclette (The bicycle thieves,1948) and Umberto D (1952), all films made in and around Rome, mainly with non-professional actors. We talk about De Sica's extraordinary career as actor, comedian, theatre then film director as well as his commitment to leftist politics and social justice, alongside his catholic faith and unusual, double, family life. Russ talks about the main elements of neorealism in cinema as evidenced in these films, and its parallel in the literature of the time, before outlining the plot of each film, each co-scripted by the director. We talk about the interesting use of locations and camera, capturing less-known areas of Rome and, the successful and affective impact of the music, composed by composed by Alessandro Cicognini in each case. Great conversation on an important director and movement.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

The movies:

Sciuscia (1946): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040522/

Ladri di Biciclette (1948): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040522/?ref_=fn_i_1

Umberto D (1952): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045274/?ref_=fn_t_1

More on De Sica: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vittorio_De_Sica

More on Neorealism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_neorealism

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Artwork by KB

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In this episode Russ Kilbourn and our guest Sandra Parmegiani, a specialist in contemporary Italian literature, explore the background to Antonio Scurati's internationally successful 2018 novel 'M: Il Figlio Del Secolo' (M: Son of the Century) about Benito Mussolini's rise to power, adapted for the screen by Sky as 'Mussolini: Son of the Century', in eight parts. The series starred Luca Marinelli as Mussolini and was directed by Joe Wright. Sandra describes the Scurati work before the M series, one of which, like M, won the Strega prize. She outlines the story 'M' tells and the unusual use of contemporary quotations from many sources. We discuss Mussolini's relationship with women and also poet/activist D'Annuncio, essentially a prototypical fascist. The novel and series culminates in the murder of socialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti, an individual who, 90 years on, continues to provoke political controversy. Turning to the TV series, we discuss the unusual range of visual story telling styles employed by Joe Wright, especially often non-realistic studio setting and the use of puppets, the latter tapping into both Wright's early years as the son of puppeteers, and their artistic and political importance in Italy. Russ sees echoes of the multi-faceted theatre of Brecht in Wright's staging and direction and also references Walter Benjamin's early media criticism in his discussion. We echo the positive critical reaction to Marinelli's performance and discuss the decision not to adapt the other novels in the series.

Participants:

Sandra Parmegiani is Associate Professor, European Studies & Italian School of Languages and Literatures, University of Gelph, Ontario, Canada.

https://www.uoguelph.ca/arts/solal/

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Antonio Scurati: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Scurati

The novel: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Il_figlio_del_secolo

The series: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19386538/

The article by Maria Bonaria Urban we discuss appeared in Annali d'Italianistica. https://annali.org/volume-41-2023/

Walter Benjamin's 'The Work of Art in the Age of

Its Technological Reproducibility' https://monoskop.org/images/6/6d/Benjamin_Walter_1936_2008_The_Work_of_Art_in_the_Age_of_Its_Technological_Reproducibility_Second_Version.pdf

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Artwork by KB

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Regular Russ Kilbourn and today's guest Roberta Cauchi-Santoro have just edited a collection of essays on screen adaptations of the novels of internationally successful Italian novelist Elena Ferrante. In this episode Roberta introduces us to Ferrante and her fiction then we discuss those adaptations, including the 34-part Sky series 'My Brilliant Friend' (2018-24) and the 6-part Netflix series ' The Lying Life of Adults' (2023). Three film adaptations are discussed, Troubling Love (1992), Days of Abandonment (2005) and The Lost Daughter (2021). We explore her insistence on anonymity, key themes in her fiction, particularly relating to the female experience, including the evolving relationship with mothers. We unpack Ferrante's concept and book 'Frantumaglia' as again, reflecting women's experience and 'smarginatura' whilst also comparing and contrasting the novels and films and much more. A wide-ranging examination of Ferrante on screen.

Participants:

Roberta Cauchi-Santoro, Associate Professor Department of Italian and French Studies, St Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada https://uwaterloo.ca/st-jeromes/profiles/roberta-cauchi-santoro

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Roberta and Russ's book: https://www.sefeditrice.it/catalogo/framing-ferrante-adaptation-and-intermediality-in-the-works-of-elena-ferrante/21029

Details of the adaptations discussed:

Troubling Love (1992): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112352/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_amore%20molest

Days of Abandonment (2005): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0474694/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_4_nm_0_in_0_q_days%20of%20abandonment

My Brilliant Friend (Neapolitan quartet; 2018-24)): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7278862/?ref_=fn_i_1

The Lost Daughter (2021): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9100054/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%20lost

The Lying Life of Adults (2023): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12708140/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_le%20bugiard

'Framing Ferrante' The book of essays just edited by Russ and Roberta:https://www.sefeditrice.it/catalogo/framing-ferrante-adaptation-and-intermediality-in-the-works-of-elena-ferrante/21029

Frantumaglia: A writer's journey: https://www.europaeditions.co.uk/book/9781609454326/frantumaglia.-a-writer-s-journey

The graphic novel of 'My Brilliant Friend': https://www.europaeditions.com/news/2637/coming-this-fall-my-brilliant-friend-the-graphic-novel

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Artwork by KB

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In this episode we talk about three films by director Paolo Sorrentino, about whose cinema Russ published a book in 2020: his most recent movie 'La Grazia (2025), about a fictional president of Italy at the end of his term, and two films based on real politicians in the later stage sof their career, 'Il Divo' (2008) about Andreotti who was premier on seven occasions i and 'Loro' (2018), based on the of Berlusconi's political career, each featuring Toni Servillo as lead. We talk about the recurrence of older male protagonists in Sorrentino's films along with scenes involving naked young women (the absence of the latter in 'La Grazie' was striking) and how these might be interpretted. Russ points out how the absence of Sorrentino's usual cinematographer Luca Bigazzi led to the much quieter, more traditional and less startling visual impact of 'La Grazia' ('grace' in english), with some engaging exceptions. We talk about the way 'Il Divo' foregrounds Andreotti's culpability for a series of bad events in Italy's recent history in contract to 'Loro's' more elegaic tone more sympathetic portrayal of Berlusconi. Russ also explains the various meaning of the word 'loro' in Italian. Other films and series referenced in the episode are listed below.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Russ's book: 'The Cinema of Paolo Sorrentino: Commitment to Style' (2020)

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Cinema-of-Paolo-Sorrentino-by-Russell-J-A-Kilbourn/9780231189927?srsltid=AfmBOorZwYhk0fi9bsIPW-e7_-o8A-kk09DE8CPAbTbu7csjbc8bhFE2

The films:

La Grazia (2025): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34886821/

Il Divo (2008): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023490/?ref_=fn_i_1

Loro (2018): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10182822/?ref_=fn_i_1

The Aldo Moro kidnapping on film: Exterior night: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12822708/?ref_=fn_i_1

Nuongiorno notte: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377569/

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Artwork by KB

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In this podcast we discuss Maria Giménez Cavallo's concept of 'cinema dell'anima', (Cinema of the Soul), an idea triggered by three Italian films from the last two decades. Maria's concept has three elements and she highlights a film for each: transcendental - ' Le Quattro Volte' (2010) directed by Michelangelo Frammartino; posthumanism - 'Bella e Perduta' (2015) directed by Pietro Marcello; poetic realism - 'Lazzaro Felice' (2018) directed by Alice Rohrwacher. Maria outlines the story of each film and the aspects that support her thesis and we go on to discuss other films that can be categorised in this way and writers who have influenced Maria's thinking, including Paul Schrader's book 'Transcendental style in film' and Gilles Deleuze's Cinema 2, and other directors. Maria also speaks about having worked with Marcello and Rohrwacher on their recent documentary 'Futura' and how filming in Sardinia led to her own first feature 'Anime Galleggianti' (Wandering Souls) a reimagining of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses', and she also talks about her upcoming film.

Participants:

Maria Giménez Cavallo, director, writer. https://animafilms.net/maria-gimenez-cavallo/

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

To view Maria's film, 'Anime Galleggianti' contact Maria via the email address on her website.

Maria's video essay: https://animafilms.net/cinema-dellanima/.

The films discussed: Le Quattro Volte ( Michelangelo Frammartino, 2010): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1646975/

Bella e Perduta (Pietro Marcello, 2015): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2188860/?ref_=fn_t_1

Lazzaro Felice (Alice Rohrwacher, 2018): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6752992/?ref_=fn_i_1

Paul Schrader's 'Transcendental style in film': https://www.ucpress.edu/books/transcendental-style-in-film/paper

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Artwork by KB

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Frank Burke is a leading film scholar with a long interest in Italian director Federico Fellini (1920-1993). Few artists were more obsessed with their dreams than Fellini. In this conversation we talk about his early interest in puppets and circus, and his jobs, before moving into film, as an illustrator and caracaturist. Drawing was always an important part of his preparation for movies but he also kept a graphic, drawn dream diary in the '60s and '70s, at the suggestion of Jungian analyst Ernst Bernhard. We discuss his interest in the work of another analyst, James Hillman who leaned more to the mystical and symbolic, and explore the recurring themes in those diaries (published postumously). Films in which dreams feature large are also discussed - we mention several but we focus on four including the feted 'Eight and a half'( 1963) and the vilified 'City of Women' (1980). To close Frank suggests movies that listeners new to Fellini may watch as an as a way into his work (depending on their interests and state of intoxication).

Participants:

Frank Burke, Independent film scholar and Professor Emeritus, Department of Film and Media, Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada. https://www.queensu.ca/filmandmedia/people-search/frank-burke

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer and retired neuropsychiatrist: http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk

More on Federico Fellini: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_Fellini

Some films discussed:

Eight and a Half: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056801/

Juliet of the spirits: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059229/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_in_0_q_%2520%2520Juliet%2520of%2520the%2520spirits

City of Women: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080539/

More on James Hillman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_HillmanParticipant:

More on Carlos Castaneda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Castaneda

A version of this conversation was first released on the Brainland podcast in November 2025 (https://shows.acast.com/brainland)

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown

Collage by KB illustration

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Introducing the Capolavoro podcast: 20 movies from 20 different directors, from Luchino Visconti’s influential 1943‘Ossessione’ to Maura Delpero’s brilliant 2024 ‘Vermiglio’. If you want to know more about post-war Italian cinema the Capolavoro podcast is a great place to start.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

The film and the movie poster we discussed: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064116/

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

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In this extended series finale we talk about 1968 film 'Once Upon a Timer in the West', Sergio Leone's operatic and big budget return to the Spaghetti Western. Russ discusses the script, elements of the story assembled from earlier westerns, the main characters and the cinematography. We discuss the central role of Claudia Cardinale and a problematic scene with Bronson, Fonda's inspired casting against type and Robard's masterly performance. Morrecone's score is centre stage and we discuss his inclusion of a musical theme for each of the main characters ( a practice common in opera) how rehearsals of set pieces were accompanied by the music and how some shots were synchronised with the music. We touch on possible political resonances, critical responses to the film and the classic movie poster also gets a mention.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of English and Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

The film and the movie poster we discussed: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064116/

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

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In Mario Martone's 2022 movie, based on Ermanno Rea's 2016 novel, 'nostalgia' is not a bittersweet reflection on the past but an obsessive need to return to the Naples of the main character's youth. We talk about the contrast with 'Gomorah', another movie involving the Camorah discussed earlier in the series, and the excellent award winning performances, particularly Pierfrancesco Favino as Felice and Aurora Quattrocchi who plays his elderly and infirm mother. The effective and unusual (in terms of presentation) use of flashback gets a mention and the central importance of the old district of Sanità where is is shot. We also talk about the music, a play list rather than score, featuring particularly the long established German electronic band Tangerine dream.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

The film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14034614/

Ermano Rea:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermanno_Rea

Tangerine dream:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangerine_Dream

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

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In this episode we discuss the 1978 film - ‘L'albero degli zoccoli’, 'The tree of wooden clogs', directed, scripted, shot and edited by Ermano Olmi. We talk about the four stories that make up the film, the way in which Olmi slowly evokes the lives of his protagonists, all local people rather than professional actors ,and the extraordinary performances he gets from them. Russ talk about the links that have been made to this film and the neorealist cinema of the late '40s and early '50s including underlying political messages and ths subtle why these are handled here. We discuss key characters, scenes and story arcs, the look of the film and the high regard in which it is held, inlcuding by the Italian Ministry of Culture who include it in their list of 100 films that ''changed the collective memory of the country'. A great watch, and it can be seen for free - see the link below.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, UK based visual artist, writer, podcaster and short film producer http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

The film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077138/

Watch for free on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/the-tree-of-wooden-clogs-1978

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

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