Tip Tap Shape

Several films from our Sister City countries arrive on DVD this week, including Ginger & Fred, directed by Federico Fellini. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellini
The film stars Fellini’s wife Giulietta Masina http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0556399/ and Marcello Mastrioanni http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000052/ as two celebrity impersonators who became famous as a Ginger Rogers/Fred Astair dancing routine. The couple parted company, but are asked to reunite for a TV variety show and the two leap at the opportunity.
The 1986 film was nominated for a Golden Globe and BATFA and won three Italy’s David di Donatello Awards, including a Best Actor for Mastrioanni. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091113/
Fellini completed two other films before his death in 1993. He died at 73 of a heart attack on his 50th wedding anniversary. Masina died six months later of lung cancer.
In 1993, Fellini also received a special Oscar in honor of his work.

Polanski’s Pomeii

Academy Award-winning director Roman Polanski has signed on to direct Pompeii, starting this summer in Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Polanski
The film is based on the best-selling novel by Robert Harris and tells the story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius through the eyes of a young engineer. The engineer was sent from Rome to repair an aqueduct and is forced to fight corruption and mother nature.
Polanski won an Academy Award in 2003 for The Pianist, and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Chinatown (1975) and Tess (1981). His last film was Oliver Twist in 2005. http://minadream.com/romanpolanski/ http://www.rp-productions.com/