This course focuses on Italian films from the 1930s to the present, featuring women-centered narratives and female protagonists. We will watch and discuss these films in relation to theoretical and critical works on the “woman’s film” as a genre, film and cultural theories of feminism and post-feminism, as well as historical studies on film spectatorship and popular genres in Italy.
Course conducted in English; Knowledge of Italian preferred but not required
FILMS
Max Ophüls, La signora di tutti (Everybody's woman, 1934)
Raffaello Matarazzo, Catene (Chains, 1949)
Vittorio Cottafavi, Una donna ha ucciso (A woman has killed, 1952)
Roberto Rossellini, Europa ’51 (1952)
Luchino Visconti, Senso (1954)
Michelangelo Antonioni, Le amiche (The girlfriends, 1955)
Federico Fellini, Giulietta degli spiriti (Juliet of the spirits, 1965)
Bolognini, De Sica, Pasolini, Rossi, Visconti, Le streghe (The witches, 1967)
Mario Monicelli, La ragazza con la pistola (The girl with a pistol, 1968)
Luca Guadagnino, Melissa P. (2005)
Federico Moccia, Scusa ma ti chiamo amore (Sorry, if I love you, 2008)
Silvio Soldini, Cosa voglio di più (Come undone, 2010)
Secondary readings will be posted on Blackboard
Requirements
Preparation and participation to class discussions 20%
Book Review (1000-1500 words) 15%
Oral presentation on final research project 15%
Final research paper (6000-6500 words) 50%
