Filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Jane Campion and Wes Anderson are among the many signees of an enchantment to stop the menace {that a} substantial portion of Rome’s film theatres might be transformed into purchasing centres and supermarkets beneath proposed regional laws.
Last month, asset administration companies Colliers Global Investors and Wrm Capital received a Rome actual property chapter public sale. They purchased 9 film theatres for a reported EUR50 million ($52 million), elevating considerations about the way forward for the town’s cinemas, reported Variety.
Some of those services, like the town’s central Cinema Adriano multiplex, are utterly lively, whereas others have lengthy since closed. The individual behind the fund is believed to be Italian-British financier Raffaele Mincione. Meanwhile, a brand new regional piece of laws is being drafted — and is up for approval this week — that might take away norms that presently stop Rome film theatres from being transformed into every other kind of enterprise apart from being a cultural house, as per the outlet.
Over the weekend, Scorsese responded to a name for assist from Rome’s Cinema America group, which oversees the town’s largest open-air movie competition and the favored Cinema Troisi arthouse venue, issued an open letter impressed by architect Renzo Piano and appealed to the nation’s prime leaders.
“As Renzo Piano eloquently reflects on the current situation in Rome, it is clear that the attempt to repurpose spaces intended for the possible cultural renaissance of the Eternal City into hotels, shopping centres and supermarkets is utterly unacceptable,” Scorsese wrote.
“Such a transformation would represent an irrevocable loss: a profound sacrilege not only to the city’s rich history but also to the cultural legacy for the future generations,” as per Variety.
Scorsese’s plea continued, “We call upon our colleagues across the globe, festival directors and all the cultural operators to sign this letter to save the last chance for redemption of one of the most important cultural and artistic cities worldwide. This letter is also personally addressed to President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to prevent any conversion of the cultural spaces in Rome. It’s our duty to transform these abandoned ‘cathedrals in the desert’ into true temples of culture, places capable of nourishing the souls of both present and future generations.”
Valerio Carocci, president of Rome’s Cinema America collective, shared that the proposed laws additionally “means inviting the owners of active movie theatres to shutter them so they can [also] reconvert” and enhance their actual property worth. “It’s, therefore, a death sentence for Rome’s future generations,” Carocci added.
Members of the worldwide movie group which have endorsed the enchantment launched by Renzo Piano, Scorsese and Carocci additionally embrace Spike Lee, David Cronenberg, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ari Aster, Julie Taymor, Mubi founder Efe Cakarel, Yorgos Lanthimos, J.J. Abrams, Josh Safdie, Todd Haynes, Judd Apatow, Damien Chazelle, Mark Cousins, Alfonso Cuaron, Willem Dafoe, Robert Eggers, Joanna Hogg, Dawn Hudson, Isabella Rossellini, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Schrader, Lea Seydoux, John Turturro, Thomas Vinterberg, Jeremy Thomas, Pawel Pawlikowski and Debra Winger, reported Variety.
Published – February 25, 2025 07:17 pm IST
