Fondazione Azzurra

A journey to a land as culturally vivacious and inventive as it is socially difficult and tormented. A three-day long dip into “the land of pizza” deep into the “system” capital, the headquarters of The Camorra.
A cinematographic, literary, gastronomic and musical excursion across this complicated and surprising metropolis. All this to discover that underneath the surface of corruption, cruel actions, criminality and delinquency, is a place still very capable of creating ideas, talent, creativity, innovation, arts and culture.

This is the largest and most significant contribution that Naples: The System, The Camorra and The Pizza: Breaking the Stereotypes, an event sponsored by Fondazione Azzurra and USC School of Cinematic Arts and Visions and Voices, offered to an interested, hungry and enthusiastic audience during the three-day marathon.

At the heart of this event, held from November 14 – 16, 2008 at USC, was, without any doubt, the presence of Roberto Saviano, the 29 years old Neapolitan writer, who, with Gomorrah, his literary debut which has sold over 2 million, has unveiled the under belly of the criminal organization, The Camorra’s exposing international liaisonsand economic interests all over the world.

Of particular interest, especially for the young audience, were the two Q&A’s that the young writer, who has been living under the police protection for two years, attended as the main guest. On Friday November 14th, the first Q&A followed the screening of Matteo Garrone’s film Gomorrah, adapted from Saviano’s bestseller, and was graced with the presence of both LA Times critic Kenneth Turan and the International Rome Film Festival head director, Mario Sesti. The second meeting with the writer was on Sunday November 16th, a panel discussion with film critic and professor Leonard Maltin as moderator, panelists included the Scottish director Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland), retired Los Angeles Police Detective Jerry Mastrangelo, and Serena Simoni, professor of Political Science. The long and vivacious discussion focused on the internationality of The Camorra, on the economic/financial aspects of this phenomenon and on the interplay of criminal imagery on the screen and on the streets.

Roberto Saviano was deeply satisfied with his participation in these activities, especially because his favorite audience is that which includes students. The writer’s aim was to offer a 360-degree perspective on the wide cultural activities that, as always characterize the vivacious and sophisticated city of Naples.

The crowded screenings of Gomorrah and Paolo Sorrentino’s Il Divo (which, according to Kenneth Turan, should have won The 2008 Cannes Film Festival) are only a couple of examples of the interesting cinema coming from the Neapolitan region. During the three-day festival presented by Fondazione Azzurra, other important classic Neapolitan movies from the last century were shown. First, E’ Piccerella (1922), a film directed by the first woman director, Elvira Notari, accompanied by the live music of composer Michael Mortilla.  L’Oro di Napoli (1954), Vittorio De Sica’s masterpiece was screened as well, and thanks to the generosity of Martha and Dino De Laurentis, the film was screened for USC and Fondazione Azzurra in never before seen version, including all of its original five episodes. Also Mario Martone’s intense 1992 film: Morte di un Matematico Napoletano, was screened, and last but not least, Francesco Rosi’s Le Mani sulla Citta’. This film won the Leone D’oro at the International Venice Film festival back in 1963.

Faithful to the purpose of offering quality cultural programs with a broad perspective on different subjects, Fondazione Azzurra also offered a catered reception featuring the most traditional Neapolitan cuisine and some samplings of the most representative melodies of the Neapolitan musical panorama.

Thanks to the collaboration of Baroness Cecilia Belleli Baratta, who came from her elegant Seliano Agriturismo in Pestum (debuting her rice Sartu’ at the annual fundraising party organized by Fondazione Azzurra), both the students and the public could taste the pasta al forno prepared at the Piccolo Chef structure, according to tradition, while Lazslo Barbo, of Neapolitan descent prepared a great home made pizza.

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra entertained the public with the music from Igor Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne, and Ennio Morricone’s melodies from the film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.

Films, literature, debates, food, music, Naples has never been so vibrant in the heart of Los Angeles, and thanks to Fondazione Azzurra and USC, Italian Culture and the Neapolitan in particular, will perhaps, live on in the hearts of some new viewers.