Latest news with #Nostalgia
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Fuori' Review: A Writer's Wild Life Gets Tame Treatment in a Serviceable Italian Biopic
It's not generally a good sign when explanatory title cards at the start and end of a movie give you vital information missing from the movie itself. But that's what happens with Fuori, a serviceable account of Italian writer Goliarda Sapienza's years as both a prisoner and ex-con, during which she forged relationships with inmates that inspired some of her best literature. Directed efficiently if too tamely by Mario Martone (Nostalgia), and starring Cannes regular Valeria Golino (Rain Man), the film should find an audience in places where Sapienza's books are popular, mainly Italy and France. The author became famous in her homeland after her novel, The Art of Joy, was published in 1998. It was a critical and commercial success that turned Sapienza, who had died two years earlier, into a major voice in Italian literature. She had led a fascinating life before that, growing up in Sicily with socialist-anarchist parents, fighting in her dad's brigade of partisans during World War II, acting on stage and in films (including a tiny role in Visconti's Senso) and trying to make ends meet during years of impoverishment as a struggling writer in Rome — until she wound up stealing a friend's jewelry and found herself locked up. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'The Disappearance of Josef Mengele' Review: An Artfully Directed, Intellectually Vacuous Holocaust-Ploitation Flick Feinberg on Cannes: Oscar Contenders Emerging From First Half Include 'Nouvelle Vague' and Jennifer Lawrence for 'Die, My Love' 'A Magnificent Life' Review: Sylvain Chomet's Beautifully Animated but Clumsily Scripted Love Letter to Marcel Pagnol For those unfamiliar with Sapienza's life or work, much of this is only made clear through the title cards. Otherwise, the script by Martone and Ippolita di Majo focuses solely on the time Sapienza spent in jail — which seems like months in the movie, but in reality was just five days — as well as the period afterwards during which she befriended an inmate, Roberta (Matilda de Angelis), who was young enough to be her daughter. Set in 1980, Fuori seesaws between prison scenes and life on the outside, where Sapienza, who was already in her mid-50s at the time, is back home in Rome trying to write. When she gets a call from Roberta, who's fresh out of jail and looking to reconnect, she begins to reminisce about their days together behind bars. The cross-cutting can feel a bit systematic, but it also adds something dynamic to a movie that's more of a chronicle celebrating the women's burgeoning friendship than a full-fledged drama. Which doesn't mean Roberta's life isn't filled with conflict: She's a total badass, stealing cars whenever she pleases and shooting up heroin every night. Sapienza seems captivated by the young woman, who can go from hot to cold in a heartbeat, acting all seductive in one scene and then treating the older woman with contempt. The two eventually link up with fellow ex-con Barbara (Italian pop star Elodie), who now runs a perfume shop. Together, they form a unique bond that's far more appealing to Sapienza than all the stuffy writers and intellectuals who populate her bourgeois world. The writer's attraction towards the criminal underclass is what makes her books, especially The University of Rebibbia (named after the place where she was incarcerated) and The Certainties of Doubt, so fascinating, but it doesn't necessarily make for great cinema. Martone favors an academic style that can feel rather stolid, even if the tech credits are polished in all departments. Scenes are handsomely lensed by cinematographer Paolo Carnera (Io Capitano) and the recreations of '80s-era Rome by production designer Carmine Guarino (The Hand of God) are expertly handled. The catchy score by Valerio Vigliar is another plus. But not a single sequence in Fuori manages to really stand out. Golino, who also wrote and directed a six-part TV adaptation of The Art of Joy (the pilot premiered in Cannes last year), convincingly embodies a woman who was a rebel in her own time. The actress literally bares herself in certain nude scenes, whether it's upon arriving in prison or during a cheesy shower sequence in which Sapienza, Roberta and Barbara bathe together at the back of the perfume shop, just like they used to do in jail. De Angelis gives an explosive performance as a girl incapable of settling down, oscillating between playing the daughter Sapienza never had and becoming a potential love interest. Fuori means 'outside' in Italian, and the film professes that life after prison is often a continuation of what went on behind bars, which is why so many ex-cons wind up going back in. Martone underscores these ideas in a story showing how Sapienza's experience at Rebibbia impacted her in the years that followed, even if her famous novel was written beforehand. It's a thought-provoking subject that probably plays better on paper than on screen, urging us to seek out the writer's books once the movie is over. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Polka dots, puffballs and power suits – 80s fashion is back! How to wear the trend in 2025
Dust off your shoulder pads and fasten your pussybow. Forget the quiet 90s minimalism we've been wearing to date – flamboyant 80s dressing is back. And this time around you don't need a perm or Lycra! Fashion's cyclical nature is not a new notion, but why the return to Yuppie consumerism and loud looks now? Not only was the taste for nostalgia seen on S/S 25 runways at Stella McCartney and Loewe, TV has also revived the thirst for this aesthetic. 'At Ebay, shoppers are gravitating towards vintage pieces like those featured in shows with retro styling, such as The White Lotus,' says Kirsty Keoghan, the platform's global general manager of fashion. In true 80s style, we may even be facing a recession, with economic contraction in the US. So, as fashion often reflects the times, 80s power suits, molten fabrics, statement jewellery and polka dots are all on summer's style set list. Here and over the page, we show how to wear 80s trends today. From left to right: PUFFBALL Iris Gold Dress £329 Shop Sophie Dearden-Howell, fashion director 'As someone who is never willingly underdressed, I love the glamour of the 1980s and am thrilled with the revival. This gold dress was so fun to wear.' NEW ROMANTICS White 100% Cotton Barrel Leg Jeans £34 Shop Rixo Black Denver Embroidery Jacket £350 Shop Hannah Skelley, fashion editor 'I may come from the 90s, but embracing my curls, smearing on red lippie and slipping into this New Romantics-inspired jacket made me wonder if I'd been born a decade too late.' Jacket, £350, Blouse, £99, Jeans, £34, Vintage earrings, £275, Belt, £5.99, Boots, £130, SHARP SUITING Ariella Pinstripe Blazer £90 Shop Ariella Pinstripe Straight Leg Trousers £55 Shop Lila Flint Roberts, senior bookings editor 'A suit isn't far from my comfort zone, but a tie is. Now I'll be wearing one to the office. The 80s can keep its heavy make-up, though!' Blazer, £139, trousers, £89, Shirt, £39.50, Scrunchie, £12, Vintage earrings, £175, Tie, £99, Bangle, Lila's own. Shoes, £245, Six ways to get the look SHARP SUITING A power suit will amp up your officewear and, trust us on this one, your wedding-guest season. City-boy tailoring might have been itchy and heavy 40 years ago, but this season it's all soft wool blends and linen. H&M Studio has great runway-like cuts at high-street prices, such as its wool-mix greige marl suit (trousers shown above). If you're petite, look for blazers with waist-slimming panels or cinch with a belt. Sophisticated courts finish the look. Shoes CHUNKY EARRINGS Magpies among us may never have stopped wearing big, blingy earrings. But if you're new to anything larger than a huggie hoop, avoid Pat Butcher chandeliers and try gold geometric pieces. Daisy's vintage-inspired selection includes lattice studs (below) that look as if they were plucked straight from Dynasty. Greek heritage brand Ysso creates beautiful ear candy (above) worthy of becoming heirlooms. NEW ROMANTICS Pair military jackets and frilly blouses with caution – if you resemble Simon Le Bon you've gone too far. Opt for jackets in a single tone, rather than clashing colours or gold brocade. Replace your denim shacket with Mint Velvet's sleek black iteration (above) or, if you're a khaki die-hard, Joe Browns' army version (below). Jacket £70 Shop POLKA DOTS White Polka Dot Bandeau Felicity Midi Dress £99 Shop Here comes a welcome swapover from animal print. Avoid micro dots and stick to wearing large, bold versions of the pattern instead. Nobody's Child's Felicity monochrome bandeau dress (above) is polka perfection. Its fitted bodice with detachable straps is ultra- flattering, while the ruching keeps it contemporary rather than staid. New Look's pussybow blouse (below) has a sultry sheer finish and will look great tucked into linen trousers or a puffball skirt. Blouse £18 Shop METALLICS Today's take on the 80s molten trend is sleek and luxe rather than Bacofoil inspired. Just be sure to step away from metallic jumpsuits and only go molten with one element of your outfit. Sézane's glitzy gold shirt (above) is perfect for parties and the sunset hour. Or keep things simple with a shiny accessory, such as Charles & Keith's woven silver shoulder bag (below). Bag £99 Shop PUFFBALLS M&S Bubble Hem Midi Skirt and Top £69 Shop It seems we've reached peak puffball. Depop, the vintage clothes-selling app, has seen searches for 'bubble dresses' spike by 127 per cent since 2024. Meanwhile, M&S has recorded it as the brand's bestselling silhouette this year. We're not surprised the store's shoppers are hunting for this shape: the brand's flattering bubble midi skirt (above) sits firmly on the right side of mushroom to be just bulbous enough in the hem. And don't forget to finish your outfit with a pair of 80s-style oversized frames. Jimmy Fairly has some of the best, including the Nax (below). Styling: Jessica Carroll. Hair: Alex Szabo at Carol Hayes ysing Philip Kingsley
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Hemanth Kumar: We are not business people yet. We are still storytellers
At a time when the line between audience and artist continues to blur, journalists Hemanth Kumar and Vrinda Prasad have made the leap from observing cinema to making it. Their debut production Muthayya, a heartwarming Telugu indie written and directed by Bhaskhar Maurya, was born not out of a boardroom plan but a shared restlessness. The film, which stars Sudhakar Reddy Kethiri in a breakout performance, has travelled to several festivals and earned praise from industry giants including SS Rajamouli and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. But for Hemanth and Vrinda, it's not just about acclaim, it's about integrity too. Vrinda says the shift began when she grew disillusioned with television. 'There's only so much you can do on TV,' she adds, 'There's a format, and there's no space to explore stories with heart. I'd always told Hemanth, who's been my best friend for over 15 years, that we should do something on our own one day. But we didn't have the courage then.' In 2019, the duo started planned to do something else but it didn't last long. Then, in 2021, Vrinda, working at Zee at the time, decided she'd had enough of corporate restraiants. She recalls quitting on May 30. Five days later, a friend brought Bhaskhar's Muthayya script to them. 'He said, 'It's your kind of film.' We heard it on June 5, and by June 7, we told Bhaskhar we were in. No investors, no plan; we just knew we had to make it.' Funding came from a friend, equipment came from well-wishers, and goodwill fuelled the production. Cinematographer Divakar Mani joined on a friendly basis and was later given co-producer credit. 'Everything about this film happened because of people who just believed in the story,' Vrinda says. Hemanth's entry into production, he says, stems from his 'genuine love for Telugu cinema.' A mechanical engineering graduate from BITS Pilani, he found his calling in criticism, blogging about movies from 2007. 'I took a film studies elective in my final semester and watched Nostalgia by Tarkovsky,' he says, 'It blew my mind. I didn't even understand what I was watching, but I knew I wanted to study film seriously.' The idea of enabling other people's stories rather than telling their own is a conscious one. Vrinda admits she has no interest in writing fiction, and Hemanth laughingly says he would be 'the worst director'. But as producers, they have clarity of purpose. 'Our job is to spot the potential in an idea and create the best environment to bring it alive,' she says. That clarity also comes with an awareness of risk. 'Nobody wakes up and says they want the headache of producing a film,' Hemanth laughs and adds, 'But producers are the unsung heroes. From scouting talent and building a crew to thinking two years ahead about where the market will be, it's exhausting and invisible work.' Hemanth specifies that the film was made in just 15 days, including reshoots. 'We didn't have the luxury of time, but the clarity of vision helped. Bhaskhar, our director, had a very unique approach; he didn't want to overwhelm the actors, many of whom were new. That affected how we framed the scenes too. The camera just observed,' he says. The film's visual language, composed of long takes and static shots, initially worried Vrinda. 'There were no close-ups, no coverage,' she recalls. 'I was terrified. But once we saw the rough cut, we knew it worked.' Their debut might have been an emotional leap of faith, but they are more pragmatic now. 'If you ask me today to make Muthayya again, I don't know if I'll do it unless I have a streaming deal in place,' Vrinda says. 'The struggle was real. We made it during COVID, aimed for OTT. The streamers were taking any film that was available in the market. By the time we were done, then theatres reopened. Suddenly, the world changed. Now, everybody is going behind theatres. It was a battle for us to bring the film out.' Despite all this, Muthayya found its home. Eventually released on ETVWin. The film also went on to premiere at festivals, gaining attention from industry heavyweights. 'Nani released our teaser, Kajal launched our poster, and Suriya sir tweeted about it,' Vrinda recounts, her voice still tinged with disbelief. 'That's the beauty of the relationships we've built over the years. These are people who've seen us grow, just as we've seen them evolve.' Hemanth agrees and says, 'That support doesn't come from nowhere. People knew we were genuine, that we give our heart and soul to a project.' Their past in film journalism remains both a foundation and a lens. Hemanth adds, 'When I reviewed films, I never claimed to know everything. It was just my personal perspective. That humility stays. We think of the audience first. I don't bring that understanding here. The media world gave me access to every part of the industry. I learnt so much just by asking questions on sets and in interviews. That's what shaped my understanding of cinema.' Today's audience, they believe, is fragmented. 'Everyone is busy with something now,' Hemanth says. 'If people have two hours, they might go to YouTube, Instagram, or Netflix. That's why films have to earn their time. If you're spending two hundred rupees, you need to walk into an experience.' Still, both are clear about one thing: they are not in it just for survival. 'There's a reason we didn't chase stars or big names for Muthayya,' Vrinda says, 'The story was the star. Sudhakar gaaru brought a kind of magic no big name could have.' As for what kind of stories they want to tell, both cite a blend of instinct and economics. 'You have to play by certain rules,' Hemanth says, 'The crowd matters. We might love European cinema, but that can't always dictate our choices. Still, we believe there's space for both.' Vrinda concludes saying, 'The industry definitely needs more producers. Not just businessmen, but people who care about stories and processes. Because this job is lonely, unpredictable, and hard, but it is also full of possibilities.' Hemanth agrees, 'At heart, we're still storytellers, not business people yet. We want to help tell stories we believe in. Because making cinema could be a journey of 1 or 2 years, and through all that, if you don't believe in your film, there's no point.' As they look ahead, their plans are more structured. They're working on a rural comedy, a rom-com, and a horror film. They are also actively pitching scripts to platforms and looking for collaborative partners. 'You can't stick to one model anymore,' Hemanth says. 'Some projects are OTT-bound, others are theatrical. But you have to think of the crowd. Our taste cannot be the only filter.'
Washington Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
D.C. stadium is nostalgia with a $3.7 billion price tag
Sports D.C. stadium is nostalgia with a $3.7 billion price tag May 8, 2025 | 8:48 PM GMT The Post's Ava Wallace and Sam Fortier talk about how a new stadium might be an attempt to return to D.C.'s football glory days.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why you keep rewatching 'Friends', and what It really says about your mental health?
You've seen Rachel and Ross's will-they-won't-they saga more times than you can count. You quote Sheldon Cooper's quirks like scripture. And still, when the world gets overwhelming, you turn once again to the warm, predictable glow of your favourite sitcom. Sound familiar? According to new research, this repeat-TV habit isn't just comfort-seeking — it could be your brain's way of healing. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front Forex reserves show a pauperised Pakistan, a prospering India Pakistan conducts training launch of surface-to surface ballistic missile Nostalgia, the Secret Mental Health Tool For years, psychologists looked at nostalgia as a mental trap — a bittersweet indulgence that bordered on depression, even classified centuries ago as a type of illness linked to anxiety and homesickness. But recent findings are turning that belief on its head. A 2013 study published in ResearchGate , aptly titled Nostalgia as a Resource for Psychological Health and Well-Being , has unearthed a surprising twist: nostalgia might actually be good for you. Whether it's watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory or swapping stories from college days with friends, the act of revisiting the past appears to trigger not despair, but emotional resilience . The study's authors suggest that this familiar trip down memory lane isn't a red flag of poor mental health — it's a safety net, especially in turbulent times. Triggered by loneliness or stress, nostalgic habits offer comfort, meaning, and emotional resilience, making them a surprisingly healthy coping mechanism. A Blankie for the Soul Like an adult version of a childhood comfort toy, those TV marathons or old stories serve a deeper purpose. The study found that 79% of people feel nostalgic at least once a week, and those feelings are overwhelmingly positive. Far from being passive indulgence, these moments can boost mood, self-esteem, and even help people feel more socially connected — a rare commodity in our digital age of isolation. Amanda Augustine, a career coach quoted in a related study on commuting trends, echoes this sentiment: 'In stressful times, people seek ways to mentally prepare for or decompress from daily pressures. Nostalgia is an intuitive, accessible way to do that.' You Might Also Like: Matt LeBlanc's million-dollar secret is winning hearts: Friends star says 'doing nothing' is his favorite thing Why Do We Always Go Back? It's not just about laughing at Joey's failed auditions or reliving the comforting monotony of Penny and Leonard's slow-burn romance. It's about reclaiming a sense of meaning, stability, and connection. The study noted that feelings like loneliness or a lack of purpose are potent triggers for nostalgia — but rather than deepening despair, nostalgia offers a protective layer. In fact, the more distressed or anxious someone is, the more likely they are to revisit cherished memories — and feel better for it. Rewatching old TV shows becomes more than entertainment; it's therapy in disguise. The study noted that feelings like loneliness or a lack of purpose are potent triggers for nostalgia — but rather than deepening despair, nostalgia offers a protective layer. More Than a Guilty Pleasure So the next time you press play on Season 5, Episode 14 — again — do so without guilt. You're not stuck in the past; you're using it as a compass to navigate the present. As the study concludes, nostalgia 'is a psychological resource – not a liability,' offering comfort, clarity, and even healing for those battling stress, anxiety, or just the chaos of everyday life. In an age that constantly pushes us toward what's new and next, maybe pressing rewind is the radical self-care we never knew we needed. You Might Also Like: The Big Bang Theory: How Amy's entry changed everything for Sheldon? Mayim and Jim's on and off-screen chemistry
