The glory of Italian cinema at Riverside Studios
The glory of Italian cinema is coming to one of London’s most iconic film studios.
From pioneering works of the Neorealism movement to the iconic films of Federico Fellini, Italian cinema has enticed audiences around the world with its unique storytelling and cultural significance.
This month, CinemaItaliaUK celebrates Italian tennis, with Domenico Procacci’s docufilm The Team (Una Squadra).
CinemaItaliaUK is a registered charity which raises awareness of Italian culture by screening a collection of the country’s best films at London venues with English subtitles.
Screening on February 25, at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, The Team follows the formidable players Paolo Bertolucci, Adriano Panatta, Tonino Zugarelli, Corrado Barazzutti and their captain Nicola Pietrangeli, when – in 1976 – they won the prestigious Davis Cup, in Santiago de Chile.
Carrying the spirit of classic Italian comedy with true flair, this tennis documentary makes clever use of archive footage, photos, and newspaper cuttings to offer a glimpse into the clashing personalities of these five protagonists, whilst telling the broader tale of Italian and international politics at the time.
Domenico Procacci is the founder of Fandango, one of Italy’s most innovative independent production companies. He is the name behind more than a hundred titles, with past credits including Paolo Sorrentino’s The Consequences of Love, Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah, and the TV series My Brilliant Friend.
A keen tennis player himself, Procacci makes his directorial debut with this film.
Riverside Studios, located on the site of a former Victorian iron works, is one of the most historic production suites in the UK, with the BBC using it as a central hub for some of its earliest television broadcasts more than 50 years ago.
The building hosts three studios that are used for television, theatre and film. For the last 45 years, it has served as an arts centre.
Pictured top: Paolo Bertolucci, Adriano Panatta, Tonino Zugarelli, and Corrado Barazzutti (Picture: Courtesy of Fandango)