Author: Massimo Volpe

The Return, a more Human Odyssey

TORONTO – While almost a third of the world’s population celebrated Christmas last week, a seemingly equal amount of cinephiles, historophiles and antiquarians were sent into a frenzy over Christopher Nolan’s new film announcement – The Odyssey.  According to Universal’s statement on X, the British filmmaker’s next project “Is a mythic-action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026”. 

Basileia, la magia della Calabria

TORONTO – Ben prima che quei Romani patrilineari si presentassero nel vicinato, antiche tribù italiche, in quella che oggi è la Calabria, come i Bruzi e gli Enotri, socializzavano con gli inventivi ed eruditi Greci. A volte definita la “punta dello stivale italiano”, la storia della Calabria [in un certo senso] è di gran lunga più ricca di quella di altri. Fu una “casa lontano da casa” per dieci anni per Pitagora e la sua confraternita di matematici. E durante la seconda guerra punica tra Cartagine e Roma, la Calabria fu il cuneo tra due superpotenze nel mondo antico… Read More in Corriere Canadese >>> 

Capturing the Magic of Calabria, Basileia

TORONTO – Well before those patrilineal Romans introduced themselves to the neighbourhood, ancient Italic tribes – in what is now Calabria – like the Bruttii and the Oenotrians were rubbing elbows with the inventive and erudite Greeks. Sometimes referred to as the “toe of the Italian boot”, Calabria’s history [in some ways] carries more in its pinky toe than others do in their hallux. It was a ten year home away from home for Pythagoras and his brotherhood of mathematics. And during the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome, Calabria was the wedge between two burgeoning super powers in the ancient world. 

Michele Morrone returns to Netflix

TORONTO – He may not be the most acclaimed or even busiest actor in Italy, but Michele Morrone is arguably the most followed and adored Italian screen actor outside of his home country. This is of course taking into account the scores of female fans [across all demographics] who circle him at every public appearance like sharks swarming a kill. Morrone rose to fame playing Don Massimo Torricelli, a Sicilian Crime Boss who “courts and seduces” a woman by kidnapping her for 365 days. Following the 50 Shades of Grey act – another book-turned-film about a BDSM affair – Morrone’s 365 film put to rest any doubt that the female gaze is every bit as perverse, or worse, than the male’s.