Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
The host describes the fascinating story of a British army captain who, during World War II, happened to have read Aldous Huxley's words (quoted in the previous segment), and remembered them just in time.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
Borgo Sansepolcro is an out-of-the-way Tuscan city. But, as this video sets out to explain, it boasts one of the most beautiful paintings in the world, so it is well worth the journey. The video begins with some passages from a 1925 essay by Aldous Huxley: “The Best Picture.” We have translated the Italian translation back into English, for learning purposes, but you can find the original English version here.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
The episode closes with one of Domenico Modugno's most famous songs, Tu si' 'na cosa grande (you are something great to me), as Mimmo muses about the present and the future.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
Mimmo goes to Paris and hears some great music, but doesn't have much success with his songs. That leaves him little choice but to go to Canada. It's cold there! He keeps in touch with Franca during his travels.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
Ungaretti mentions 2 poets who attracted him as a youth: Mallarmé and Leopardi. He talks about the famous poem Alla primavera, o delle favole antiche by Leopardi but gets the title wrong. You can see the entire poem (in Italian) here.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
When they get to his hometown, there's one person Mimmo doesn't want to see and one person he does want to see. Later on, he talks to Franca about how frustrated he is about his career.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
Ungaretti talks about how he got his start. He frequented a café in Paris, where artists and poets would gather.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
As Mimmo and Franca enjoy the beach and swimming in the clear water, he tells her about his childhood in the town they can see from where they are sitting.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
After thanking his host for his kind words, Ungaretti begins talking about his life. He gives a lot of credit to young people, first of all.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
The piazza where Mimmo and Franca perform is deserted, but everything changes once he starts singing a Tarantella. Later on, Mimmo takes Franca to one of his favorite spots.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Italy
Ettore Della Giovanna, noted Italian journalist (1912-2004), interviews Giuseppe Ungaretti, considered one of the greatest poets of his time, besides having been a writer and scholar.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
Franca, disappointed and hurt, goes to visit her grandmother in Sicily and writes a letter to Mimmo.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
Before the prince leaves the gathering in a very melancholy mood, he tells Mimmo about a job. Mimmo gets the job, but has a hard time satisfying the director (who is a bit eccentric, it must be said). Franca comes to the theater to see Mimmo at a certain point, but it might not have been the right moment.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
At their meeting with the head of Curci music publishers in Milan, Riccardo and Mimmo dare to mention the word "contract." Once back in Rome, the Prince shows up at the artists' circle where Mimmo is having dinner.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Italy
Franca's career is going nicely, and Mimmo decides that he'll do whatever they want him to: Sing, dance, act...
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