“The house takes care of itself.”Burnt Offerings (Dan Curtis, 1976)
Jul
1

The chauffeur (Anthony James). DP: Jacques R. Marquette.
– Roz Allardyce
“The house takes care of itself.”Burnt Offerings (Dan Curtis, 1976)
Jul
1

The chauffeur (Anthony James). DP: Jacques R. Marquette.
– Roz Allardyce
“I don’t have the inhibitions that a practicing Catholic would in that I’m not paralysed by the sacredness of the text, nor do I have the inhibitions of a lapsed Catholic who would view approaching the story of Jesus as compromising his Marxist beliefs, of sinking back into conformity.” Il vangelo secondo Matteo [The Gospel According to Matthew] (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964)
Jun
22
National Kissing Day

Judas (Otello Sestili) kisses Jesus (Enrique Irazoqui) in intimate closeup. DP: Tonino Delli Colli.
A [favourite] movie kiss for National Kissing Day (USA*), not to be confused with International Kissing Day aka World Kiss Day which falls on July 6.
– PPP, via
An neorealist, straightforward adaptation of the Gospel of Matthew, populated by non-actors (“Jesus” is a 19-year Catalan trade unionist picked for his resemblance to El Greco's Christ), intellectuals, and anachronistic characters based on biblical art through the ages.
According to said Gospel, apostle Judas kissed prophet Jesus to signal to the police who of the 13 men present was the one to arrest.
Interestingly, the word Matthew chose to describe the kiss is καταφιλέω, the same word used by philosopher Plutarch to describe the kiss between Alexander the Great and his eunuch Bagoas
* no one wants to kiss you anymore, America
Morte a Venezia [Death in Venice] (Luchino Visconti, 1971)
Jun
11
Say HI Day

Von Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde) and Tadzio (Björn Andrésen). DP: Pasqualino De Santis.
Characters say or wave hello on Say HI Day
A sickly composer meets and becomes infatuated with a boy during his stay in Venice.
“You must realize that today in Germany anything can happen, even the improbable, and it's just the beginning, Frederick. Personal morals are dead. We are an elite society where everything is permissible. These are Hitler's words. My dear Frederick, even you should give them some thought.”La caduta degli dei (Götterdämmerung) [The Damned] (Luchino Visconti, 1969)
May
18
Visit Your Relatives Day

Martin Von Essenbeck (Helmut Berger) entertains the family. DPs: Pasqualino De Santis & Armando Nannuzzi.
A family gathering on Visit Your Relatives Day (USA)
– Aschenbach
The wealthy Von Essenbecks gather for a family dinner party. There is entertainment.
“My Hermès handbag!” Week-end (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967)
May
9
UN Global Road Safety Week

A terrible, bloody, car crash. There's cars on fire and several injured sprawled around. A lucky survivor exclaims MY HERMÈS HANDBAG! DP: Raoul Coutard.
A traffic accident: UN Global Road Safety Week *
– Corinne
The bourgeois make their way to the countryside, and find themselves in a cacophony of car crashes, primitive urges, and political uprisings.
* In 2025, this actually takes places from May 12 – 18.
“Producers are something I can easily do without”Le mépris [Contempt] (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963)
May
5
Europe Day

Michel Piccoli, director Fritz Lang, Jack Palance, and director Jean-Luc Godard behind the scenes. The clapperboard held by Godard is for the movie that Lang's working on in Le Mépris, an adaption of Homer's Odyssey. DP: Raoul Coutard.
A director from the EU for Europe Day
– Fritz Lang
A film in a film, the former directed by Fritz Lang, directed by Godard.
“Have you ever tried to dress as a priest? Try it, at least once. It's a bit like being a woman. In summer the breeze enters under the genitals. You can go without briefs. Priests are half men and half women.”Todo modo [One Way or Another] (Elio Petri, 1976)
May
1
National Day of Prayer

M. (Gian Maria Volontè) speaks to the gathered elite while a gypsum Christ multiplies bread and fishes. DP: Luigi Kuveiller.
A spiritual theme for the National Day of Prayer (USA)
– Don Gaetano
Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, Italy's political leaders, industrialists, bankers, and business leaders gather for a retreat as an atonement for their past crimes of corruption and unethical practices, and to reinforce their power.
“Parfois ils disent que nos images sont esthétiques, mais nous disons que les images esthétiques sont des images hautement étiques. Pour nous éthique et esthétique marchent ensemble. Re-filmer signifie re-signifier.”Prigionieri della guerra [Prisoners of War] (Yervant Gianikian + Angela Ricci Lucchi, 1995)
Apr
24
Armenian genocide

Horse-pulled carts arrive at a cross (via). DPs: Yervant Gianikian & Angela Ricci Lucchi.
A World War I film: a day in recognition of the forced deportations and genocide in Armenia, 1915 — 1923.
– Yervant Gianikian and Angela Ricci Lucchi in conversation with Daniele Dottorini, 2007 (via)
Re-purposed propaganda reels show citizens – displaced, dehumanised – turned into prisoners of war, and finally into corpses.
– As they say, 'Tidiness is the virtue of a mediocre mind.' – Then I'm a genius.Una giornata particolare [A Special Day] (Ettore Scola, 1977)
Apr
19
National Hanging Out Day

Antonietta (Sophia Loren) and Gabriele (Marcelo Mastroianni) on the roof of their building, clean sheets like a fort around them. DP: Pasqualino De Santis.
A clothesline in support of Project Laundry List's National Hanging Out Day (USA)
“Do you fancy a pizza? Come on, then! Come on, let's go! What the hell. We might as well go out in style. What's the point in worrying about it all?”Ladri di biciclette [The Bicycle Thieves] (Vittorio De Sica, 1948)
Apr
11
National Cheese Fondue Day

Bruno (Enzo Staiola) eating mozzarella. DP: Carlo Montuori.
Cheese or fondue for National Cheese Fondue Day (USA)
– Antonio Ricci