It’s rare that I care so much about something that, in the great scheme of things, matters so little, but I am thoroughly enjoying Paolo Sorrentino’s Academy Award win for La Grande Bellezza, The Great Beauty.
Call me old-fashioned, but his short and sweet acceptance speech, thanking Fellini, Scorsese, Talking Heads and Maradona ( famous soccer player, my husband had to tell me who he was) was such a pleasure compared to those like Cate Blanchett’s, who WOULD NOT SHUT UP in hers; I loved Blue Jasmine and I’m super happy for her, but c’mon. Enough’s enough. I love watching the Italian academy awards (The Davids); winners graciously accept their awards in basically 10 seconds or less.
Ironically, I don’t think Italy liked La Grande Bellezza as much as the rest of the world did. Maybe they thought it was shining a bad light on Rome, but I didn’t see it that way. It was filmed in Rome, and the story was centered around the city, but all of us, everywhere, have the same weaknesses and emptiness. Even in my town, looking for “the great beauty” can be challenging. The reason that it was so appreciated worldwide is its universality.
So take the compliment, Italians. You have a great director, lots of them, actually, but today we celebrate Paolo Sorrentino and his masterpiece, La Grande Bellezza.
I Love Italian Everything 