Italian Heritage Society of Michigan

A Celebration of Italian Film: La Balia (The Wet-Nurse)
directed by Marco Belloccfiio

Opening Remarks

• Dr. Gianluca, Consul of Italy
• Sue Marx, Academy Award Winning Filmmaker
• Andrea di Tomasso, Professor of Italian Studies, Wayne State University

La Balia (the Wet-nurse)

Dr. Mori, a well-to-do professor, must find a wet nurse to nourish his newborn son who has been rejected by his natural mother after a difficult birth. He finds an illiterate country girl at the train station and coerces her to abandon her own son.

The backward girl soon bonds with the baby, increasing the natural mother's insecurities. The professor sets out to teach the girl how to read, but in the end it is the professor who learns from the illiterate immigrant. She's not just a 'milk machine' but a breathing woman with inner intelligence, affection and wisdom. This beautiful film is considered one of Bellocchio's finest in recent years. 1999 Cannes Film Festival Palme D'or Nomination

Marco Bellocchio was born in Piacenza, .Italy in 1939. He trained briefly as an actor before attending the Experimental Cinematography Centre in Rome, and graduated in directing. His second feature film, China is Near (67), won both the Special Jury Prize (shared!) and the International Critics Prize at the 1967 Venice festival. Selected filmography: Fist in his Pocket (65), China is Near (67). In the Name of the Father (71), The Seagull (77), The Eyes, the Mouth (82), Devil in the Flesh (86), The Sabbath (88), Broken Dreams (95) and The Wet-Nurse (99).

Sponsors

• Italian Heritage Society
• Wayne State university
  • Development and Alumni Affairs
  • Department of English
  • Film Studies Program
  • Division of Governmental and Community Affairs
  • Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
  • College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
  • College of Liberal Arts
• Consulate of Italy, Detroit
• Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
• Italian Heritage Society
  • Marian A. Impastato, Chair
  • Frank D. Stella, Honorary Chair
• Dr. Gianluca Alberini, Consul of Italy

Benefactors

• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Angott
• Hon. and Mrs. Joseph N. Impastato
• Mr. and Mrs. Harold Arnoldi
• Italian American Professional and Business Women\'s Club
• Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Campanale
• Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Cracchiolo
• Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Maniscalco
• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cracchiolo
• Mr. and Mrs. John Scherer
• Dr. and Mrs. Anthony De Luca
• Mr. Frank D. Stella
• Mrs. Charles M. Endicott
• Dr. and Mrs. Anthony R. Tersigni
• Judge and Mrs. William J. Giovan
• Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Warren
• Adel Amerman
• Mr. Fabrizio Pesce
• Caroline Sinelli Burns
• Mr. and Mrs. Perry Calisi
• Marlene Kler
• Mr. E. Ray Scott
• Mr. and Mrs. Frederick H. Clark
• Miss Annette De Lorenzo
• Dr. and Mrs. Reginald Harnett
• Mr. and Mrs. Eugene T. Ignasiak
• Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Kedzierski
• Professor Robert Burgoyne

Patrons

• Mr. and Mrs. Jason A. Hinz
• Mr. and Mrs. George E. Michaels
• Mrs. Jacques Nasser
• Mr. and Mrs. Gino Santavicca
• Mr. Anthony Sanfemio
• Mr. Joseph Shady
• Miss Josephine Sinelli
• Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Vitale
• Col. John von Batchelder

Contributors

• Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Selvaggio
• Mr. Gregory Palka
• Dr. Gianluca Alberini
• Russell B. Collins
• Dr. Andrea di Tommaso
• Dr. Raffaele De Benedictis
• Gregory V. Palka
• Dr. Charles Stivale
• Larry D. Wilson
• George J. Dorset
• Gary Hitchens
• Michael P. McLean
• Alan Barlett
• Walter Kochan

A Special Thanks You to:

• Mr. Frank D. Stella
• Hon. Joseph N. Impastato
• Carolyn Sinelli Burns
• Josephine Sinelli
• Oland a Santavicca
• Gourmet House, S1. Clair Shores
• Giglio Markets, S1. Clair Shores, Shelby
• Il Caffe
• Tim McCarthy, Cost Plus Wine Shop, Detroit
• Historic Eastern Market
• Manzella\'s Market, St. Clair Shores
• Naples Bakery, Roseville

The Italian Heritage Society wishes to express its gratitude to all of you in support of this project and to those who recognize the importance of establishing a 35mm-film presentation on campus. The proceeds from this event will be used for the enhancement of the facility with a six-channel stereo system. Completion of the final phase of this endeavor will enable the Italian Heritage Society and the campus community to invite major filmmakers to Wayne State University for screenings, premiers, and other special events.

Marian A. Impastato, Chair