More than 40 years after its release, Un Ponte Per brings "IL LEONE DEL DESERTO" (1981, directed by Mustafa Akkad, starring Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas and Oliver Reed, 173', sub Italian language version) to Italiancinemas for the first time to recall the responsibilities of Italian colonialism in Libya.

A historical film based on the life of the Senussite leader Omar al-Mukhtar who led the fight against colonial occupation and the harsh Italian repression, it was never shown in cinemas. The film has been boycotted in Italy since its release. Considered by the government to be 'detrimental to the honour of the army', its distribution was blocked. In 1987, the Digos prevented its screening in Trento during a pacifist meeting.

On 16 September 2024, Libyan Day in memory of the victims of colonisation, Un Ponte Per organised its screening in 12 cities: Rome, Turin, Naples, Milan, Arezzo, Monza, Bologna, Modena, Pisa, Catania, Florence and Verona!

The event is promoted as part of the initiatives for the establishment of the Day of Remembrance for the victims of Italian colonialism, and aims to bring attention to the responsibilities of our country during the period of colonial occupation in Libya, the Horn of Africa and the Balkans.

Each screening will be preceded by a brief introduction and historical contextualisation.
X INFO write to decoloniale@unponteper.it

Programme and details of events on 16/09* in each city:

• ROME, (16 September SOLD OUT), Nuovo Cinema Aquila, Via L'Aquila 66/74.
  H 19:20 Introduction with Prof. Alessandro Volterra, Director of the iconographic research and historical documentation laboratory; H 20:00 Aperitif; H 20:20 Film screening. Event organised in collaboration with Nuovo Cinema Aquila. Admission 7 euro - 10 with aperitif.
  ADDITIONAL 2nd PROOF FOR 23 SEPTEMBER, again at the Nuovo Cinema Aquila, H 2:20 [bookings closed];
  ADDED 3rd SCREEN SHOW in ROME ON 30 SEPTEMBER, H 20:20 always at Nuovo Cinema Aquila
  [Reservations closed].

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• TORINO, Centro Studi Sereno Regis, Sala Poli, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 13. H 18:00 Talks by Gabriele Proglio, Nicola Salvini and Pietro Polito, followed by an aperitif and screening of the film Il leone del deserto. The screening will be included as an off event in the "Give Peace a Screen" festival. Event organised in collaboration with Centro Studi Sereno Regis.
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• NAPLES, on 20 September, Ex Asilo Filangieri, Vico Giuseppe Maffei 4. H 18:30
  The screening is part of the week of initiatives on Italian colonialism and decolonial thought.
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• MILAN, Cinema Beltrade, Via Nino Oxilia 10.
  H 20:00 Introduction by Prof. Antonio Maria Morone of the University of Pavia and the journalist and writer Nancy Porcia. Followed by a screening of the film.
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• AREZZO, Circolo Culturale Aurora, Piazza Sant'Agostino.
  H 18:30 introduction by Prof. Beatrice Falcucci and Khalifa Abo Khraisse, Libyan journalist, scriptwriter and director. H 19:45 Apericena. H 20:45 screening of the film The Lion of the Desert. Event organised in collaboration with Circolo Culturale Aurora, ANPI Arezzo, Arci Arezzo, Oxfam Italia, Onda d'Urto, Associazione Amicizia Italopalestinese, Arezzo per Gaza.
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• MONZA, Capitol Anteo spazioCinema, Via Alessandro Pennati 10. H 20:00, event organised in collaboration with Arci Scuotivento.
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• BOLOGNA, Le Serre dei Giardini Margherita, Via Castiglione 134.
  H 20.15 meeting with Samanta Musarò, Viviana Gravano and a representative of Next Generation Italy - Bologna.
  H 21.00 film screening. Event organised in collaboration with Associazione Attitudes.
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• MODENA, Cinema Truffaut, Via degli Adelardi 4.
  H 20:30 presentation by historian Gianluca Gabrielli, followed by screening. Event organised in collaboration with Associazione MOXA - Modena per gli altri, Centro Documentazione Memorie Coloniali and the Historical Institute of Modena.
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• PISA, on 21 October, at the Cinema Arsenale, Vicolo Scaramucci, 2.
  Time being defined.
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• CATANIA, Arena Argentina, Via Vanasco 10.
  H 20:00, event organised in collaboration with Ass. Centineo and Anpi.
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• FLORENCE, Cinema Astra - Piazza Beccaria 9.
  H 20.30, event organised in collaboration with Black History Month Florence, Recovery Plan and Fondazione Culturale Stensen.
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• VERONA, Museo Africano, Vicolo Pozzo 1.
  H 19.30, refreshments and brief presentation of the film's themes before the screening. Event organised by Nigrizia.

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The film will be shown in its original version with subtitles. Viewing is reserved for audiences over the age of 14.

Would you like to organise the screening in a cinema in your city? Write to decoloniale@unponteper.it

* all screenings are scheduled for 16/09/2024, except where otherwise indicated [NAPLES, 20 September; PISA, 21 October].