The Rome cinema festival opened on Wednesday night with the world premiere of Riccardo Milani's La vita va così (Life Is Like That) and with homages to the late Claudia Cardinale and British film producer Lord David Puttnam, who got a lifetime achievement award.
    The jury at this year's festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is being chaired by actor-director Paola Cortellesi, who told reporters on opening night that she is nearly finished directing her second, so-far untitled film after the smash-hit C'è ancora domani (There's Still Tomorrow) which broke box-office records after premiering at the Rome fest two years ago.
    She also wished "all the best" to the opening film, out of competition, which is directed by her partner Milani.
    Salvo Nastasi, president of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, opened the evening with a tribute to Cardinale, star of The Leopard, Rocco and his Brothers, 8 1/2, and Once Upon A Time In The West who died on September 23 aged 87.
    "She represented the strength, beauty, and hospitality of the great Mediterranean tradition," he said.
    "In such a tragic moment as the one we are experiencing, her smile, her gaze, and her memorable performances restore that faith in humanity that we are increasingly convinced is about to abandon us." The homage culminated at the end of the evening with a video set to the music of the waltz she danced with Alain Delon from The Leopard, showcasing some of her finest performances.
    Lord Puttnam, whose productions include the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire, The Mission, The Killing Fields, Local Hero, Midnight Express and Memphis Belle, said he discovered Italian cinema when he was "just over twenty.

And I was struck dumb by it.
    "Italian cinema of the 1940s depicted "a country rediscovering itself, finding itself, and regaining confidence in itself.
    "And for this, we owe a great debt to filmmakers like Visconti, De Sica, and Rossellini." photo: Cortellesi
   

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