CF’s International Film Series continues with Italian anthology ‘Boccaccio ‘70’

The College of Central Florida (CF) Ira Holmes International Film Series continues its 60th anniversary season with the Italian comedy classic, “Boccaccio ’70,” on Tuesday, March 8.

Starring Sophia Loren and European leading ladies Romy Schneider and Anita Ekberg, “Boccaccio ‘70” is an anthology film released in 1962 and made up of four tales of love in modern times.

It was directed by Italian cinema legends Vittorio De Sica (“The Bicycle Thief,” “Umberto D.”), Federico Fellini (“8 1/2,” “La Dolce Vita”), Mario Monicelli (“The Organizer,” “Big Deal on Madonna Street”) and Luchino Visconti (“The Leopard,” “Death in Venice”).

Consisting of four episodes—“Renzo e Luciana” (directed by Monicelli), “Le Tentazioni del Dottor Antonio” (Fellini), “Il Lavoro” (Visconti) and “La Riffa” (De Sica)—the film was inspired by the work of Giovanni Boccaccio, an Italian poet, humanist and early correspondent of the scholar Petrarch during the Renaissance.

Boccaccio’s most notable work was “The Decameron,” completed in 1353 but first published in English in 1620. A collection of novellas, the book’s many tales range from the purely erotic to the searingly tragic, while always remaining witty, humorous and full of life lessons.

“Boccaccio ‘70” will be shown at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and at 7 p.m. at the CF Ocala Campus, located at 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110.

On Wednesday, March 9, at 12:30 p.m., Dr. Silvo Gaggi will host an online film talk and Q&A session on Zoom.

The film series, all from the year 1962, when Professor Holmes first began the long-running program, will conclude on March 29 with “To Kill a Mockingbird,” directed by Robert Mulligan. Dr. Gilbert B. Rodman will conduct an online film talk on March 30.

A bonus 1962 film shorts festival, featuring Chris Marker’s “La Jetée,” Louis Malle’s “Vive le Tour” and more, is scheduled for April 12.

Films at the Ocala campus are free and open to the public, while films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members. Nonmembers must pay museum admission.

Be advised that some films in the series may contain mature content.