Page 354 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

352  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

Movies and Theater The Venezia a Roma event in
September gives movie buffs a
Moviegoing is very popular in Rome. The excellent Casa del chance to see movies from the
Cinema and high-profile International Festival of Cinema summer Venice Film Festival.
reflect the city’s enduring love of the big screen. The listings pages (see p346)
The great majority of Roman movie theaters are prima have details on retrospectives
and avant­garde film seasons
visione (first run) and show the latest international releases at the Azzurro Scipioni and
in dubbed versions. The smaller arthouse theaters are more the outdoor arts festivals like
likely to show subtitled versions of foreign movies. RomaEuropa (see p349) and
Theater productions are performed in Italian whether the Festa dell’Unità (see p347).
plays are national classics or by foreign playwrights. The main Finally, aficionados of Italian
theaters offer a selection by great Italian playwrights. There are cinema should consider taking
the Cinecittà Shows Off tour
also performances of traditional cabaret, avant-garde theater, at the famous studios. This is
and dance theater. Theater tickets cost between €8 and €50 the chance to see where block­
and can be bought in advance by visiting the theater box busters such as Cleopatra and
office, or through the last-minute booking service (see p346). Gangs of New York were made
and perhaps sense the spirit
of Federico Fellini (tours are in
Prima Visione Scipioni (one of the few to English at 11:30am and 4pm
There are over 80 prima visione be open throughout summer), from Wed–Mon).
movie theaters in the city. The Filmstudio, or Nanni Moretti’s
best ones for decor and comfort Nuovo Sacher. Some of the Mainstream Theater
are the Fiamma (two screens) smaller theaters are called cine-
and Roma (three screens). clubs and require membership. The backbone of Rome’s theatri­
Foreign movies are usually The Palazzo delle Esposizioni cal repertoire are Luigi Pirandello’s
dubbed. Original language shows interesting series of dramas, and comedies by
versions are shown at the international films, but head 18th­century Venetian Carlo
Nuovo Olimpia (daily) and for the Casa del Cinema for Goldoni, 20th­century Neapolitan
occasionally at the Greenwich. the real art­house experience. Eduardo de Filippo, and Nobel
Tickets for new movies cost Cartoons and children’s Prize winner Dario Fo. Major
around €7, but a few theaters favorites are shown at Dei foreign playwrights are also
listed as prima visione charge Piccoli, in the leafy surrounds performed from time to time.
less, namely Farnese and Reale. of the Villa Borghese. The best classic productions
People over 60 and disabled are staged at the Teatro
people are normally entitled to Argentina, Teatro Quirino,
a 30 percent discount on week­ English-Language Films Teatro Eliseo, and Teatro
days. Tickets are reduced in many As well as occasional undubbed Piccolo Eliseo. Teatro Argentina
theaters on weekday afternoons, showings of American, British, is state­owned and home of
and on Wednesdays. Check the and Australasian films in art­ Rome’s permanent theater
newspaper or listings such as house theaters and the Nuovo company. Its sister theater,
TrovaRoma for details (see p346). Olimpia and The Space Cinema Teatro India, stages more
Moderno, the excellent Casa innovative works. The historic
del Cinema has a policy of Teatro Ambra Jovinelli, near
Arthouse Movie Theaters
screening all movies in their Termini station, is the best place
True film buffs flock to Rome original language. to go for comedy acts. Plays at
in October for the International the Quirino often feature
Festival of Cinema (www.roma famous Italian actors. The Eliseo
cinemafest.it) with events center­ Summer Movies and Piccolo Eliseo are among
ing on the Parco della Musica. Some Roman movie theaters the city’s best private theaters.
There are two main types of have roll­back roofs that are in At Teatro Sistina and Teatro
art house movie theaters in use during the summer, while Brancaccio you can see hit
Rome: cine-clubs and cinema the others close down. The musicals by visiting foreign
d’essai. Both are good if you’re Nuovo Sacher has an outdoor companies and shows by
interested in catching older arena. Rome also has various popular Italian actors, while
classics and new foreign films as summer film festivals, the most Teatro Vittoria goes in for plays
well as movies by con temporary central being L’Isola del Cinema by Noël Coward or Neil Simon.
Italian directors. on the Tiber Island. Several
The d’essai theaters now and themed movies are screened Contemporary Theater
then show films in the original each night from 9pm until the
language (indicated by v.o. small hours, with food and Contemporary theater is
for versione originale in the drinks for sale and often live performed at the ever­dynamic
listings). Try the Azzurro music during intermissions. Teatro Vascello, the Teatro

US_352-353_EW_Rome_US.indd 352 15/03/17 4:22 pm
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