Cinema and law meet at Modernissimo

"Cinema and Law" is a project, financed with the University of Bologna’s Third Mission funds and born out of the collaboration between the Department of Legal Studies - DSG, the Department of the Arts - DAR and the Cineteca di Bologna, which from 12 to 26 March, at the city’s Modernissimo cinema (Via Rizzoli 1/2, Bologna), will stage a dialogue between the worlds of art and law and the community.

A cycle of three film screenings will animate the first edition of the initiative, conceived to investigate the multiple points of intersection between cinema and law in contemporary society, at a time when the media have the power to shape and deform the collective imagination, thereby influencing the representation of justice. Preceding each scheduled feature film is a series of interdisciplinary talks, entitled "Sguardi incrociati” (Crossing glances), during which law and art experts will share ideas and points of view with the public. These talks will also be held at the Modernissimo cinema, turning the historic hall into a bridge uniting the university community with a wide and diverse audience.

Particular attention will be paid to the representation of trials in cinema, to the differences between artistic and judicial narratives, to the use of images as evidence, and to the debate on the relationship between judge and historian. Thus, art becomes an instrument of information and education, with the cinema allowing us to “see” law and justice with clearer eyes.

Anatomy of a Fall (by J. Triet) is the first feature film scheduled to be aired on Tuesday, 12 March, at 5pm; this will be preceded, at 3.30pm, by Dubbio e giustizia (Doubt and Justice), a talk with Luca Luparia (University of Milan) and Prof. Roy Menarini (DAR), moderated by Prof. Emanuela Fronza (DSG).

On Tuesday, 19 March, at 7.30 pm, it will be the turn of Lord of the Ants (by G. Amelio). The evening will open at 6.15 pm with La rappresentazione della giustizia nel cinema italiano (The representation of justice in Italian cinema), a talk between Alma Mater professors Gaetano Insolera, Andrea Lollini, Guglielmo Pescatore (DAR) and Prof. Diletta Tega (DSG), moderated by Prof. Marco Cucco (DAR).

The cycle will end on Tuesday, 26 March, at 5pm, with the film Saint Omer (by A. Diop). The screening will be preceded by a 3.30 pm talk entitled Il processo come messa in scena (The trial as a mise-en-scene). This will be held by Prof. Stefano Canestrari (DSG), Judith Vailhé (magistrate, Cheffe du pôle Justice et Libertés - Défenseur des droits) and Prof. Anna Masecchia (Federico II University of Naples), and will be moderated by Paolo Pellicano (Cineteca di Bologna).

The permanent Archive, set up at the Department of Legal Studies, will serve as a point of collection and analysis of audiovisual productions. Indeed, the Archive will collect films and documentaries from all over the world, often unknown or difficult to find, allowing the establishment of national and international collaborations and becoming a point of reference for training activities at schools, universities and judicial institutions.