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Although Americans have undoubtedly invented and perfected the traditional Western genre of movies, therehave been many international adaptations and reconfigurations.
For example, spaghetti westerns were named after being produced by and directed by Italians and have produced a cult-like following, hailed by many fans as “the best genre of films."
The Film Forum (W. Houston) honors this particular variety of films with a three-week Spaghetti Western Film Festival running June 1st to the 21st, 2012, with screenings by the spaghetti film originator, Sergio Leone and his rival Sergio Corbucci, among others.
If there’s one must-see film during the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s annual June series, Open Roads: New Italian Cinema at the Walter Reade Theater (running from the 8th – 14th), it’s the latest by master Ermanno Olmi, whose The Cardboard Village is another example of his extraordinary yet simple artistry.
Since his early ‘60s breakthroughs Il Posto and The Fiances -- and even in his biggest hit, the overlong The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978) -- Olmi’s humane portraits of everyday people have always been understated and subtle; The Cardboard Village -- 87 minutes of not a frame wasted -- shows that the soon-to-be 81-year-old Olmi (due another career retrospective—the last one in New York was a decade ago!) remains relevant.
I and many others knew French actor Jean Dujardin of the Oscar-winning The Artist when he could speak. And you can know him, too, in New York City's Central Park this week. You can even hear him sing.
As part of Films on the Green Festival, a program of free French films shown in various parks throughout the summer, The Cultural Services of the French Embassy are showing OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, Friday, June 1, 2012, at 8:30 pm. The screening is free, open to the public in the Park south of 79th Street and 5th Avenue.
To find out about the other films in the series and complete details, check out frenchculture.org and look for Films on the Green.
Starting Saturday, June 2nd - 10th, 2012, at IndieScreen in Williamsburg, the 8th Annual Kids Film Festival -- produced by the Brooklyn Film Festival -- launches with various screenings of children’s films. This kids film fest promotes children’s filmmakers and teach children about moviemaking.
This year’s program is themed DECOY and is geared towards audience of all ages (rated “G” films).