Italian Cinema Audiences: Histories and Memories of Cinema-going in Post-war Italy

This project explores the Italian audiences that went to see their films during the Italian cinema heyday, from 1945-1960, by combining video interviews and written questionnaires with archival material and industrial analyses. It provides a new understanding of the role of cinema in everyday Italian life and its affective meaning when remembered by older people.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 01 October 2020
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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We have a deep understanding of the directors and stars who graced the Italian cinema during its golden era, ranging from Roberto Rossellini to Sophia Loren. However, our knowledge of the Italian audiences who flocked to watch their films remains relatively limited. To address this gap, the AHRC-funded project 'Italian Cinema Audiences 1945-60, Italian Cinema Audiences: Histories and Memories of Cinema-going in Post-war Italy' has delved into a wealth of data collected by the project team. This extensive research includes 160 video interviews and over 1000 written questionnaires gathered from Italians aged 65 and above, as well as archival materials related to cinema distribution, exhibition, and programming, box-office figures, and critical discussions of cinema from film journals and popular magazines of the period.

For the first time, this project sheds light on the significant role that cinemas played in the everyday lives of Italians during the post-war era. It explores the emotional significance that these cinematic experiences held for older individuals, providing a deeper understanding of their memories and experiences. In addition to the qualitative data, the project also incorporates industrial analyses of the thriving Italian film sector of the period. This includes a comprehensive examination of the production, distribution, and exhibition practices, as well as the economic and cultural factors that shaped the film industry during this time.

By combining these various sources of information, the project offers a rich and multifaceted perspective on Italian cinema audiences. It provides a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of cinema in post-war Italy, as well as the ways in which it shaped and influenced the lives of its viewers. The project's findings will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and anyone with an interest in the history and culture of Italian cinema, as well as the broader field of film studies.

\n Weight: 492g\n
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781501347689\n \n