Gian Maria Volonté 'revisited' on set 30 years after his death

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of one of the most important and versatile performers of Italian cinema: Gian Maria Volonté. The Archivio Storico di Cinema Enrico Appetito celebrates the artist with the event exhibition Gian Maria Volonté 30. From 1 to 24 March 2024, every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free admission, in the spaces of the Wegil, it will be possible to take an original look at three fundamental films of our cinematography: Investigations on a Citizen Above Suspicion, Sacco and Vanzetti and For a Fistful of Dollars. The exhibition features ninety photos, divided between set and off-set, chosen from over 8,000 in the archives of the three films.

At Spazio Scena, again with free admission, the appointments will continue with the screening of the three films preceded by meetings and debates, organised in collaboration with Left magazine, with artists, directors and film critics moderated by Giusi De Santis and Francesco Della Calce. On Thursday 7 March, at 6.39 p.m., For a Fistful of Dollars will be the occasion of a meeting with the Gian Maria Volonté School of Cinematographic Art. Speakers: Daniele Vicari and Georgia Lorusso. It is 1964 and the first film of the so-called dollar trilogy directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood arrives. Gian Maria Volonté appears under the name John Wells while Ennio Morricone signs the soundtrack under the pseudonym Dan Savio.

Thursday 14 March will be the day of Sacco and Vanzetti. Hosts Antonello Fassari and Mattia Sbragia. The 1971 film, directed by Giuliano Montaldo and starring Gian Maria Volonté and Riccardo Cucciolla, narrates the real-life story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian anarchists who emigrated to the United States in the early 20th century and were condemned to death in the electric chair despite being innocent. In 1977, following the uproar caused by Giuliano Montaldo's film, the numerous demonstrations and the trial review work promoted by the International Committee for Rehabilitation, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis declared: "Every stigma and shame be forever erased from the names of Sacco and Vanzetti". The governor continued in words still relevant today: 'Their trial and execution should remind civilised peoples of the constant need to arm themselves against our susceptibility to prejudice.

Wednesday 20 March will see Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto with Mimmo Calopresti and Andrea Occhipinti. Elio Petri's award-winning film, which won an Oscar in 1971, is considered one of the director's best films and one of the best in Italy, so much so that it was included in the list of 100 Italian films to save.