In anticipation of the screening of her latest movie Figlia Mia (Daughter of Mine) at Filmfest DC on April 24, the Italian Cultural Institute is pleased to invite you to the screening of Vergine Giurata (Sworn Virgin). Director Laura Bispuri, award winning actress Alba Rohrwacher, and journalist Laura Delli Colli will meet the audience for a conversation and Q&A session on both Vergine Giurata and Figlia Mia at the Embassy of Italy on April 23rd.
SYNOPSIS:
Vergine Giurata (Sworn Virgin) follows a young woman named Hana who lives in an Albanian village ruled by men, and she takes an oath of eternal virginity to live as a “sworn virgin” becoming Mark, so she can live free as a man. Years later, restless and feeling imprisoned by his choice, Mark leaves for Italy to visit his sister and family. There, he explores the unexpected pleasures of attraction and the body and decides to abandon Mark, rediscovering herself (himself) as Hana, to become a new and liberated person.
Director: Laura Bispuri
Italy/Switzerland/Germany/Albania in partnership with Kosovo, 2015, 90 min
Film in Albanian and Italian with English Subtitles
LOCATION
Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
REGISTRATION & PHOTO ID REQUIRED
DOORS OPEN 30 MINUTES PRIOR EVENT START-TIME
Due to new safety regulations, we are not allowed to add extra seats to the auditorium or let anyone stand. A registration is not a guarantee of a seat as these are assigned on a first-come first-served basis.
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH EVENTBRITE. NO PHONE OR EMAIL RSVP AVAILABLE
PREVIEW (via Youtube)
Laura Bispuri, after a degree in Cinema at “La Sapienza” University of Rome, was selected to attend the direction and production school “Fandango Lab Workshop”. With her short film Passing Time she won the David Donatello Award (Italian Oscars) for Best Short Film in 2010. Passing Time was also selected as one of the eight best short films in the world at the “Short Film Golden Night”, organized by Académie des César in Paris. With the other short film, Biondina, she was awarded in 2011 with Nastro d‘Argento (Top Italian Film Critics Award) as “Rising Talent of the Year”. Sworn Virgin is her first feature film that in development’s phase was selected by the Cannes Film Festival’s “Atelier de la Cinéfondation”, by New Cinema Network at the Rome Film Festival‘s International Project Workshop, by Les Ateliers d‘Angers of Jeanne Moreau and by The Venice Film Festival’s “Gap Financing”.
ALBA ROHRWACHER (as Hana/Mark)
In barely a decade, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher has become one of the world’s most sought-after young actresses. She recently won the Venice Film Festival’s Best Actress award for her performance in Saverio Costanzo’s Hungry Hearts. Her other recent film credits include: Alice Rohrwacher’s Cannes-winner Le Meraviglie, Marco Bellocchio’s Dormant Beauty, Doris Dorrie’s Gluck, Silvio Soldini’s The Commander and the Stork and Emma Dante’s Via Castellana Bandiera. Alba made her screen debut in 2004 in Carlo Mazzacurati’s L’Amore Ritrovato. Other roles quickly followed: from Melissa P. by Luca Guadagnino (2005) to Mio fratello è figlio unico by Daniele Luchetti (2007); Giorni e nuvole by Silvio Soldini (2007) for which she won a David di Donatello award for Best Supporting Actress. The following year she won their Best Actress award for Pupi Avati’s Il Papà di Giovanna. Alba was a “Shooting Star” at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival. She is best known in the U.S. for her performance as Tilda Swinton’s daughter in 2009’s I Am Love. Alba has also worked in theatre, appearing in La casa degli spiriti directed by Della Seta and Sevald (2003), Bric à brac directed by Lupaioli (2004), Il mondo salvato dai ragazzini directed by Cruciani (2005), Lisa directed by Gioielli (2006) and Noccioline directed by Binasco (2007). Born in Firenze to a German father and Italian mother, Alba studied at the Accademia dei Piccoli in Florence (1997-1998) and the Compagnia de’ Pinti School (1998- 2000). She graduated in 2004 from the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema.