- = recommended
The festival’s opening night film is Lina Wertmuller’s adaptation of an Eduardo De Filippo play from the 50s, starring Filippo’s son Luca as a jealous husband suffering something of a mid-life crisis and Sophia Loren as his wife, who expresses herself mainly through her cooking. The setting is Naples in the 30s; with Luciano De Crescenzo, Alessandra Mussolini, and Pepella Maggi. (Fine Arts, 7:00 and 9:30)
A Paucity of Flying Dreams
Saturday October 13
Good News
A repairer of gumball machines has to tangle with gangsters in order to collect his meager profits, until he finds a charismatic ally and discovers that one of the gumball machines dispenses cocaine. Gavin Wilding directed this American independent feature; with Jack Kruschen, Don Fullilove, and Ted Lange. (Fine Arts, 3:00)
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The notorious Kray twins, gangsters who ruled London’s East End in the 50s and 60s, are legendary figures in England, and screenwriter Philip Ridley boasts that his account of their lives and careers is blatantly unfactual, unsullied by a scrap of research. His ambitious script blames everything on the permissive matriarchy that reared them, although it isn’t quite as simpleminded as it sounds. With Martin and Gary Kemp (from the pop group Spandau Ballet) as the twins–the former straight, the latter gay–and the remarkable Billie Whitelaw as their mother, this movie has a certain depth and class, although the macabre violence–dished out strategically and qualitatively (with sabers) rather than quantitatively–is extremely unpleasant. Peter Medak (The Ruling Class, The Changeling) directs this with some sweep and force, but the thoughtful dimensions of this English picture don’t entirely overcome or justify the overall coldness and nastiness. Enter at your own risk; with Tom Bell, Kate Hardie, and Susan Fleetwood. (JR) (Fine Arts, 5:00)
