CINEMA/Balkan Florence Express
February 23-26
Cinema La Compagnia, via Cavour 50r, Florence
Ph. Giuseppe Chiantera/Gruppe28.
Broaden your cinematic horizons at the Balkan Florence Express film festival, organized by Oxfam and the Fondazione Sistema Toscana and showcasing 19 movies from Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo and beyond. The opener will be Dobra Žena (Good Wife), which chronicles the story of a married woman who stumbles on a secret from her husband’s past (February 23, 9pm). Star Mirijana Karanović will be present at the screening. Other highlights will be the most recent film from Oscar winner Danis Tanović, Smrt u Sarajevu (Death in Sarajevo, February 25) and a book presentation put on by Ciclica, featuring Gigi Riva (February 24, 4pm), vice director of L’Espresso and author of L’ultimo rigore di Faruk: Una storia di calcio e di guerra. The full program will soon be published on the website.
SIP/The Florentine Wine Club: Alessandro Raveggi
March 1, 7pm
Simbiosi, via dei Ginori 58/60r, Florence
Join Alessandro Raveggi, editor of TheFLR, and The Florentine’s Helen Farrell for a chat about wine and desire—the theme of the next issue of the bilingual literary magazine. Guest winery: Avignonesi. Chat+aperitivo with complimentary wine 7pm. Stay for dinner—reserve your spot at info@theflorentinepress.com.
DOCUMENTARY/David Lynch: the Art Life
February 23, 9pm & February 25, 6.30pm
Odeon Cinema, piazza Strozzi, Florence
This documentary zeroes in on the life, mind and artistic inspiration of enigmatic director David Lynch, best known for TV sensation Twin Peaks and noir-esque film Mulholland Drive. Filmed during his work on Inland Empire, it sheds light on his individual creative process and how strange memories from his past have lent a surreal quality to his work. For more information, see the Odeon website.
LECTURE/Mixed Ancestry Babies at the Innocenti
February 28, 6pm
Museo Innocenti, piazza Santissima Annunziata, Florence
In connection with Black History Month Florence, New York University’s La Pietra Dialogues series will host a lecture by Kate Lowe of Queen Mary university of London. Focusing on mixed ancestry babies at the Ospedale degli Innocenti – an orphanage and founding hospital run by laypeople and welcoming children in need – the talk’s subtitle is “Renaissance Florence Meets Sub-Saharan Africa Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The lecture will be online for those unable to attend. Booking is required; email lapietra.dialogues@nyu.edu or call 055.5007219 to secure your spot. View the full Black History Month Florence program on the website.
MOVEMENT/DanzainFiera
February 23-26; 3pm-8pm Thurs, 9am-8pm Fri-Sun
Fortezza da Basso, viale Filippo Strozzi, Florence
Toe-tapping children to professional ballerinas will head to the Fortezza da Basso for four dance-themed days at DanzainFiera. This year’s theme is “Dance Inside Out,” since the festival won’t be confined to the Fortezza, but will make an impression in the streets (groups of dancers will wind their way through Florence’s main piazzas beginning at 11.30am in piazza dei Ciompi on opening day). Expect performances from international names including Sarah Lamb and Federico Bonelli, principal dancers from London’s Royal Ballet. The Spadolini pavilion will also host a Dance Fitness area where you can pick up some tips and equipment for a fun ballet-based workout, and a Baby Dance area will be geared at little ones. Tickets are 15 euro for one day; 40 euro for a four-day pass; 10 euro for kids ages 8 to 12. Free entry for people with disabilities and for children under 8. For the full program, see the website.
