Cinema and the City: Florence

Danielle Cohen Prof. Monica Francioso Cinema and the City Reflection Paper #3: Florentine Locations in Anglo and Italian Films             Florence is a significant location for the film industry given its unique aesthetic and robust history. However, the way in which Florence is used varies throughout all types of film. Whether it is used to cite Dante, exploit Grand Tour standards, or simply tell a story, the Florentine setting is rich with purpose in its selection as a location. This purpose fluctuates most observably between Anglo and Italian films. Whereas Anglo films generally employ Florence for its variety of Western perceived symbols and meanings, Italian films tend to use Florence as a setting where a story about Italian people can transpire; in short, Italian films shot in Florence give light to the humanity of the story at hand, the city mostly serving as the context and expositional foundation. ...

Danielle Cohen Prof. Monica Francioso Cinema and the City Reflection Paper #2: “Hannibal” and the Representation of Florence Through Genre             Florence is a city known for many prominent things: romance, art, history, food, wine and much more. The use of location in film may seem trivial to most viewers if it is not the precise centerpiece of the plot, however most locations are chosen very carefully and specifically. Films are intentionally shot in Florence in order to emphasize a quality of the movie by emphasizing a quality of the location. Depending on what the movie is trying to convey, the way that Florence is displayed varies within the confines of what Florence has come to be known for. In order to relay a particular message, writers and filmmakers will produce a work in a particular genre.             Ridley Scott’s “Hannibal” (2001) is the sequel...