Italian Cinema

From the household names of movie stars Sophia Loren and Roberto Begnini dating back to the birth of cinema in Italy in the late 1800s, Italians have influenced the world with their cinematic talents ranging in acting and scriptwriting to producing and directing.

In 1896, Vittorio Calcina was the first Italian to make a film in Italy. Titled 'Umberto and Margherita of Savoy Walking in a Park,' this film was a short documentary. Others soon followed until public interest created a need for directors and producers to narrate stories on screen. In the early days, literature became a source for film material. In 1930, the first Italian sound film was made. 'The Song of Love' was inspired by a novel by Pirandello and made by Gennaro Righelli.

It was the work of De Sica, Visconti and Rossellini that drew worldwide appeal from universal subject matter. Their films have since become cult classics appealing to generations of film buffs. Other unforgettable works of cinema include the political films of Bellocchio and Ferreri, both filmmakers who continue to influence modern-day directors around the world.