Moviement summer cinema initiative in Italy highlights three new releases

Italian distributors, including major American studios, have united under the Moviement initiative to prevent cinemas from closing during the hot summer season. Major American releases are performing well at the box office, while Italian cinema struggles with timid releases and lack of promotion. Exceptions include Marco Bellocchio's 'Il Traditore,' which has performed unexpectedly well since its May 23 release following its Cannes presentation. Other Italian titles are small and receive little promotion. Notable upcoming Italian releases include Pupi Avati's new film on August 22. Three films are highlighted this week: 'Lucania – terra sangue e magia,' directed by Gigi Roccati and distributed by 102 Distribution, tells the story of a father and daughter in a magical, inaccessible land between mountains and sea, dealing with toxic waste dumping and redemption; 'The Elevator,' directed by Massimo Coglitore and distributed by Europictures, stars Caroline Goodall as Katherine who traps TV show host Jack Tramell in an elevator on Labor Day weekend for a psychological battle; and 'La prima vacanza non si scorda mai,' distributed by I Wonder Pictures, a comedy about Marion and Ben, thirty-something Parisians who meet on Tinder and go on a vacation to Bulgaria, exploring their different ideas of an ideal holiday.