WTI Magazine #30    2014 May, 15
Author : Simone doc Bracci      Translation by:

You think about it and think again, and in the end you realize that Italy's classic movies world has had so many big names, compared to the contemporary scene: talented actors recognized throughout the world, glorious icons that take us back in time and at the same time are still modern, nowadays.

Sometimes born by low income popular talented people, they have been representing our country on the big screen for decades, so much that to homage them always acquires the sense of a great cultural event.

In this case, in this particular year, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his death, America celebrates in Los Angeles the myth of one of our most famous actors, Nino Manfredi. Image of the Italy we're proud to export, born in Castro dei Volsci (Lazio) in 1921, together with Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi and Alberto Sordi he is recognized as one of the giants of our cinematic classicism.

So, how America celebrates Nino? Starting with a special screening of the restored version of the film "Pane e cioccolata" (Bread and Chocolate), the eternal masterpiece which officially opens the exhibition "Nino! Tribute to Nino Manfredi", presented on April 10 in Rome. The movie tells the story of an Italian immigrant in Switzerland in the 70's, which between drama and grotesque comedy struggles to find his place in the world, though only a few hundred miles from home.

The career of Nino Manfredi finds therefore a new placement, returning to the forefront of Hollywood thanks to an event that shows not only his talent, but also his humanity as a performer and character of the show.

"The common sense of an ordinary man": this is how the roles of his long career have been described, and we agree with this judgment, recognizing "Nino" as a symbol of a true Italy disappeared but, today, maybe reborn: which never gives up, like Nino's character in "Pane e cioccolata", directed by Franco Brusati. A truly must see.