Italian Programme, School of Modern Languages and Cultures HKU

This course will look at some of the most representative movements of the Italian cinema, from its origin to the present day. The heyday of Italian cinema was the so-called Neo-Realism of the 1940s and 1950s. Rossellini’s Rome Open City and De Sica’s Shoeshine or The Bicycle Thief were internationally regarded as the prototypes of a new genre of cinema. Since then, Italian cinema has regularly won international awards. The course will acquaint students both with the great masterpieces of Italian cinema as well as with the work of famous contemporary Italian filmmakers, including Gabriele Salvatore, Giuseppe Tornatore, Nanni Moretti, etc. Students will be introduced to films that touch on some of the key issues in modern Italian society. The course is taught in English.

Elective Course
ITAL2024	Italian cinema	6 credits

This course will look at some of the most representative movements of the Italian cinema, from its origin to the present day. The heyday of Italian cinema was the so-called Neo-Realism of the 1940s and 1950s. Rossellini’s Rome Open City and De Sica’s Shoeshine or The Bicycle Thief were internationally regarded as the prototypes of a new genre of cinema. Since then, Italian cinema has regularly won international awards. The course will acquaint students both with the great masterpieces of Italian cinema as well as with the work of famous contemporary Italian filmmakers, including Gabriele Salvatore, Giuseppe Tornatore, Nanni Moretti, etc. Students will be introduced to films that touch on some of the key issues in modern Italian society. The course is taught in English.

Assessment: 100% coursework.
(Not on offer in 2020/2021)