Category: English

“Vittoria” revisits Neorealism

TORONTO – Having won the Venice Horizon’s Extra Strand Award this summer, a category for experimental and unconventional films, the throwback neorealist film Vittoria just announced distribution in several major territories. The film sold to France (Les Films Du Camélia), Japan (Starcat), Australia and New Zealand (Palace Films), Latin America, Portugal, English speaking Africa, Spain (Sun Distribution/Diamond Films) and Greece (Filmtrade).

“The Leopard” comes to Netflix

TORONTO – The Leopard, based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel, has been made into a new 6-part television series and is coming to Netflix this March 5th. The work was famously adapted to screen by Luchino Visconti in 1963, and starred some of the era’s biggest actors: Burt Lancaster (as Don Fabrizio Corbera), Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale. And although that film adaptation won the Palm D’or and is now widely considered a classic film, this new incarnation of The Leopard looks no less interesting. 

Canada expects exodus from Trump’s US

TORONTO – Ending birthright citizenship for those born in the U.S. whose parents were in the country illegally or temporarily; increasing security at the border; tightening enforcement of immigration laws including promised mass deportations of millions of immigrants; suspending the U.S. refugee assistance program; recognizing only male and female gender identities. 

Flavio Volpe on US tariffs: “Prudence and caution before reacting”

TORONTO – On Tuesday,  the “Council on Canada-U.S. Relations”, established by Justin Trudeau met to explore countermeasures following the announcement by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to put a 25% tariff on all goods arriving from Canada. The “Council”, of eighteen members includes former Premiers, businessmen/women and heads of industrial sectors. Among them, Flavio Volpe, the only Italian-Canadian appointed by the Prime Minister.

Donald Trump, President. To Panic or Not to Panic?

TORONTO – The inauguration of the “new” American President came and went January 20, but the much feared imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian goods and services did not materialize. What Trump di deliver was a directive to the pertinent departments of US government to provide his office with a complete analysis of Acts, Regulations and Outcomes of initiatives impacting on economic programs affecting Canada-USA relations.  By April 1, 2025. 

Trump completely devoted to US interests. Ours not so much

TORONTO – Presidential Executive Orders (EO) in the USA define the President, his policies and the character of the new administration. They are the directives which will guide Congressional activity and bureaucratic behavior for the next four years. They are intended to take care or “urgent business” – establish the priorities of the nation all entities who hope or need to deal with US federal jurisdiction. 

Conservatives-Liberals, the gap is huge

TORONTO – The Liberals’ moves to try to regain credibility among the Canadian electorate are in vain: the gap with the Conservatives remains abysmal. The latest poll that certifies this is the one conducted by Abacus from January 9 to 14 on a sample of 1,500 Canadian adults. Let’s look at some data, as reported by Abacus. 

Jane Campion Champions Italy’s Vermiglio

TORONTO – Reeling from the historic devastation of the wildfires which broke out on January 7th, Los Angeles is set to host four major events within the next three years. With more than 150,000 displaced residents and grave concerns over the mishandling and rebuilding of their city’s infrastructure, the city is set to stage the 2026 Men’s World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, the 2028 Olympics and yes, the 97th Academy Award Ceremony. 

To Lead or not to Lead? No… to Fight or Flight

TORONTO – Leadership races often appeal to the political bloodlust that afflicts us all. We claim to be policy-driven and that we will strive (today’s operative word is fight) for a better world. The truth is a little less noble; our discussions are centered on assessments based on the total of unfavourable comparables among the contestants. 

A Fractious Relationship

TORONTO – In 1969, during a visit of then PM Pierre Trudeau to Richard Nixon, he described Canada’s relationship with the United States as “Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and turn.” 

“La-La Land’s” Contemptuous disregard for rules

TORONTO – That, in a nutshell, is how two citizens interpreted Justin Trudeau’s request for prorogation of Parliament on January 6, 2025, when he asked the Governor General to “suspend all Parliamentary functions” until March 24. To summarize: no new legislative proposals; no legislative approvals: no Committee deliberations; no new budgetary expenditures; no authoritative voice for Canada on international etc.