11/01/2008

Of the four titles on release today, at least two promise to break the box office bank: US blockbuster I Am Legend by Francis Lawrence (with Will Smith, distributed by Warner Bros on 520 screens) and the local comedy starring Lino Banfi – reprising his role 20 years after the first film – in the sequel L’allenatore nel pallone 2 (“The Football Coach 2”) by b>Sergio Martino (Medusa Film, 620 screens).

There is also humour in Black and White [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (01 Distribution, 285 screens), albeit the kind meant to make you squirm. The film marks Cristina Comencini’s return to comedy after an Oscar nod for Don’t Tell [+see also:
trailer
film profile], as she examines the delicate subject of racial integration.

Identity and integration are also key to the highly anticipated The Secret of the Grain [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hafsia Herzi
film profile] by Abdellatif Kechiche. The audience favourite at the latest Venice Film Festival, the director had to make do with Special Jury Prize and Marcello Mastroianni Award for newcomer actress Hafsia Herzi.

Released on a limited run of 35 prints, distributor Lucky Red is counting on word-of-mouth among the arthouse public to boost admissions.

(Translated from Italian)