LThree coins in the Bosque. Wait, that’s not how it goes. Oh yes, now I remember; three coins in a fountain. Can you tell I have Italy on the brain? Our city just keeps adding more cultural outlets. This time Rio Rancho is spreading its cultural wings by playing host to the first ever New Mexico Italian Film Festival running today through Sunday, February 11th. Rio Rancho, the Hollywood of the southwest, at least for the next four days.

Just about every major city across the globe from Toronto to Melbourne hosts a film festival every year. Names like Tribeca, Sundance and Cannes are all very familiar to us, but what exactly is a film festival, you ask? Good question. Mostly they are a venue for independent film makers to debut their work in different movie houses and theaters around a sophisticated, culturally rich city. The public is invited and encouraged to view as many showings as they can.

The New Mexico Italian Film Festival is slightly different by showcasing some of the greatest classic Italian films ever made. More than 60 years of the best Italian directors, actors and award-winning films will be shown at four Albuquerque and Rio Rancho area venues, including the RRHS Performing Arts Center on Loma Colorado. Given today’s trends, we are so used to watching our favorite old movies right in our own living rooms. But nothing compares to seeing Al Pacino up on the big screen, larger than life saying… well, it doesn’t matter what he is saying, just looking at him is enough. Movies are meant to be watched on the big screen.

That reminds me of when I was about 25 and I saw an advertisement for a one-time showing of The Wizard of Oz. This was before the 1939 classic was out on VHS and after they stopped showing it every Easter. Being the die hard fan that I was, I went. Turns out so did thirty or so school age children and their mothers. Seating was small size school chairs. I didn’t care. Seeing The Wizard of Oz on the big screen was no comparison to watching it on television once a year, if I was lucky.

I attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival in the late 80s. In a matter of one weekend, I took in five feature films at five different locations. One of those movies still sticks with me to this day. It was an unpretentious documentary featuring ordinary people sitting in front of a black screen giving their answers to one philosophical question: “What do you think happens when we die?” One by one, from young to old and everywhere in between, these average Joes answered this monumental question with conviction. Each answer was as different as the person relating it. It is the unexpected movies like this one that leaves you appreciating the independent film makers.

“The buzz has been increasing and we think this will be something big” said Ronaldo Patrizio-Steiner, Festival Director. From early classics such as Fellini’s La Strada, (1956) to more modern films such as Moonstruck with Cher, the Godfather 1 with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and Academy Award winning Life is Beautiful starring Roberto Benigni there is sure to be something for everyone. Twelve titles in all will be shown twice each at the KIMO Theater, Guild Cinema, the Lobo Theater and at the RRHS Performing Arts Center. Be sure to catch a documentary entitled Nine Good Teeth. It is the story of the director’s 102-year-old grandmother as she dispenses homespun wisdom and reveals many of the common truths hidden away in all families, as well as the unexpected - late night visits from Jack Kerouac, illicit love affairs and the occasional murder. Holy Cannoli, Granny!
Tickets are $7.00 for each show and all proceeds benefit the University of New Mexico Children’s’ Hospital. Tickets are available at the door. Schedules and more information can be found at www.italianfilmfest.org. Ciao Bella.

Quote of the Week: “I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" –Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather Part 1.

Jennifer Huard’s column appears each Thursday. E-mail her with your comments at jhuard@abqjournal.com .