Rome Film Festival Switches Light On

ROME – The Inaugural International Rome Film Festival kicked off without a hitch Friday, with the Nicole Kidman starrer “Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus” playing to a packed house at fest center, the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
“I fell in love with Rome when I was seventeen,” Kidman told the local glitterati. “I always thought I’d marry an Italian, but I didn’t.”
At the press conference that morning, Kidman wowed journalists when she gave permission for any questions to be asked. Most reporters behaved, as per reports.
In the film, about the imagined inner life of the legendary American photographer, Diane Arbus, Kidman gave a stellar performance as a sexually and creatively frustrated woman at sea in a curiosity-shop world of colorful characters. The film is shot in brilliantly composed frames worthy of its protagonist’s eye.
Not the only star to grace town this weekend, Sean Connery drew throngs of fans Friday afternoon for a special talk session on stage, tied into the Connery Hommage here, which includes a number of his pictures, such as Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables.”
Saturday night saw business delegates gather at a cocktail hosted by one of the festival’s sponsors, Variety. On hand were Hollywood bigwigs and a smattering of Euro players.
“I’m here to meet with people and talk on some panels and get a feel for the new government,” the MPAA’s Bob Pisano told FilmFestivals.com.
Despite the late night, with several parties running into the small hours, journalists managed to drag themselves back to the auditorium for a 9 A.M. start Sunday with the press screening of Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.”
A wonderfully crafted film about truth and deception in the corrupt world of the Boston police force and the criminals they track, the film proved quite a blood-bath for that early in the morning.
Scorsese, as well as stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Vera Farminga were on hand for a press conference following the film.
Asked by one Norwegian journalist if reports were true that he would follow in the footsteps of Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas with making this his last Hollywood picture, Scorsese said:
“We were lucky that Warner Brothers gave us a lot of freedom with this film. I wouldn’t rule out doing another studio film. It’s like a disease or a bad virus or an addiction that slowly creeps up on you again.”
Farminga who plays both DiCaprio and co-star Matt Damon’s love interest said: “It was not only a career changing but also a life changing experience to work with Mr. Scorsese.”
She then went on to thank DiCaprio for his total support.
“It’s not just about you and your performance,” she said. “You really worked to draw out the best performance from me as well. Thank you.”
A series of new and retrospective films will unspool throughout the week with Lasse Hallstrom’s “The Hoax” and Mira Nair’s “Namesake” among U.S. highlights. Audiences will also have a chance to see Italian classics such as Roberto Rossellini’s “Roma citta Aperta,” which plays again tonight.
The well-organized festival also has a series of events and programs in place. Via Veneto has been transformed into a business street for the weekend; John Paul Gaultier, who threw a thirtieth anniversary party at last week’s Paris Fashion Week, has sponsored a ‘glamor bus’ which ferries fest-goers back and forth to premieres, providing make-up and champagne; and there’s a costume exhibition on at the fest center.
Beyond that, there’s everything from jazz concerts to business conferences running throughout the week, including a focus on German cinema and a film financing forum.
“It’s not like Venice has to watch out,” said one fest regular. “But it’s good. The films have been starting on time and everyone’s here.”

By Liza Foreman