Food, Film, and Fiction: Italian Programming coming to Portsmouth!

As if by chance, we find ourselves with two weeks of programming with quite a bit of Italian influence. While it’s cold, snowy, and very New England-y out, escape with us to the sunny, warm Italian landscape.

First, join us in welcoming beloved Italian chef, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, to our historic stage. I am currently deeply immersed in her memoir, and I can’t stress this enough: it is an enthralling story of a sweet, young Lidia, who escaped communist Yugoslavia and lived in a refugee camp in Italy before immigrating to America. Food and family shine through in ways I hadn’t expected and truly love. And if food is what interests you most about this event, she’ll be sharing two of her favorite recipes with you!

Every summer, the Cineteca of Bologna presents a film festival of restored films, early silent cinema, and director’s portraits, called Il Cinema Ritrovato. As a longtime movie house, The Music Hall is joining in the fun in partnership with UNH and the festival to bring several films to New Hampshire (four to TMH screens), Il Cinema Ritrovato On Tour. Described as “pure heaven for cinephiles,” the film festival will show restored films from all over the world. If you’re a fan of our Telluride by the Sea Film Festival, you need to check out the list of offerings showing at this one! Full line-up here

And at the end of the month, we journey back to the 1950s where we meet a cast of characters in Christopher Castellani’s Leading Men. At a party thrown by Truman Capote in Portofino, Italy, Tennessee Williams and his lover Frank Merlo meet an aspiring actress, Anja Blomgren. Christopher seamlessly weaves fact and fiction to create this heartbreaking and unforgettable story. All reports say you won’t be able to put this book down!

Film, fiction, or non-fiction, you’ll find something intriguing here at The Music Hall this month. I hope to see you soon!