In June 2024, the XXXVII Edition of “Il Cinema Ritrovato” took place in Bologna,
an experience of collective vision that is found “Under the Stars of Italian and International Cinema”.
Many of the Festival’s screenings are unique and unrepeatable events, above all due to the importance and quality of the restorations, the magic of the places, the ancient light of the coal lantern and, of course, the charm of Piazza Maggiore, one of the most beautiful “ halls” in the world. An extraordinary magic is created.
Everyone is invited to the vision, no one excluded. All citizens can freely watch “under the movie stars”. You see an extraordinarily tidy “carpet” of young people, students, tourists, women and men of all ages, cinema enthusiasts. Some are sitting on chairs, but most people have no problem sitting on the ground, on the sidewalks, on the pavement of the square. So much amazement in their eyes and so much serenity in their faces.
It’s all so particularly magical… couples hugging each other watching films, children falling asleep on their mother’s legs or on their father’s shoulders.
We witness the order and silence of hundreds of people who, in the darkness of the night, in the light of the stars and watching a beautiful film, are experiencing an educational art experience.
It’s exactly like this, if you consider that before the screening of the film “Les Parapluies de Cherbourg” (1964), Damien Chazelle and Rosalie Varda spoke on stage and introduced the evening. We remember Damien Chazelle as the director of the legendary “La La Land”.
If you then add the “ad personam” meeting with the latter, the “dream becomes reality”. He is kind, an excellent communicator, he leaves autographs and apologizes if he keeps those who managed to reach him waiting behind the scenes of the stage.
Everything is magic in the City of Bologna, it is a memorable journey through space and time, to the rediscovery of its arcades, history, culture, art and colours, and music, if we think that it gave birth to many Italian singer-songwriters.
You can breathe a spirit of freedom, civic sense, respect for the identity of others, good food and a lot… a lot of poetry.
If you go to Bologna…don’t forget your heart there!
