This program is in English.
Tonight’s film will be introduced by Ivo Blom, university lecturer Arts & Culture at the Vrije Universiteit. Here, he coordinates the MA Comparative Arts & Media Studies and teaches the BA course Contesting Images and the MA course Crossmedial Exhibitions, while he taught courses on film history and film analysis for decades. He specializes in Italian film, silent film, film & art, and film distribution & exhibition.
Blom, a former resident of Rome, will elaborate on the film's (top) locations and the context of the production. What was the reality behind this delightful romantic comedy that elevated Audrey Hepburn to stardom overnight?
Roman Holiday
The young Princess Ann is on an exhausting tour of European capitals. When she arrives in Rome, she has had it with all the formalities and runs away from it all. In the nightly streets of Rome she bumps into Joe Bradley, an American journalist who has been living in the city for a while. She doesn't want to go back to her hotel, so eventually Bradley invites her to stay the night at his place. At work the next day, he realizes who she actually is. With this great scoop in his hands, he persuades her to enjoy a fun day with him, while a colleague secretly takes pictures of her. Ann and Bradley are having a wonderful, romantic time together, but how long can it last?
This delightful romantic comedy was a huge success, not least because of the chemistry between the leads, Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. The film won three Oscars, including one for Hepburn.
Please note: VU students can attend this screening for only € 3. This discount only applies if you buy your ticket at the box office in the VU. If you do so, you will also receive a token for a free drink!
And consider this: a ticket ordered online costs €8.50. So...
