The bonds of love and friendship are forged and tested in the films of Roan Johnson. A rising star of European cinema, the English-Italian director graduated to the majors when his 2016 film Piuma played in competition at the Venice Film Festival. A charming comedy with shades of Jason Reitman’s Juno (2007), the film sees an unexpected pregnancy serve as a catalyst for the rattling of its central couple’s relationships, as friends and family bicker endlessly over the ramifications of this impending arrival. Warm-hearted and affecting, Piuma offers a thoughtful perspective on romance and companionship in modern-day Italy, just as Johnson’s debut had offered a fresh angle on a tumultuous period in the country’s past. Drawn from a real-life incident that has long since passed into urban legend, The First on the List (2011) follows three musically-minded friends out of 1970s Pisa, as they cross the border into Austria seeking political asylum. With a military coup seemingly imminent, Johnson examines the tensions that envelop a nation through the microcosm of this trio of balladeers. Our double bill celebrates an exciting voice in contemporary Italian cinema.

The bonds of love and friendship are forged and tested in the films of Roan Johnson. A rising star of European cinema, the English-Italian director graduated to the majors when his 2016 film Piuma played in competition at the Venice Film Festival. A charming comedy with shades of Jason Reitman&#8217;s Juno (2007), the film sees an unexpected pregnancy serve as a catalyst for the rattling of its central couple&#8217;s relationships, as friends and family bicker endlessly over the ramifications of this impending arrival. Warm-hearted and affecting, Piuma offers a thoughtful perspective on romance and companionship in modern-day Italy, just as Johnson&#8217;s debut had offered a fresh angle on a tumultuous period in the country&#8217;s past. Drawn from a real-life incident that has long since passed into urban legend, The First on the List (2011) follows three musically-minded friends out of 1970s Pisa, as they cross the border into Austria seeking political asylum. With a military coup seemingly imminent, Johnson examines the tensions that envelop a nation through the microcosm of this trio of balladeers. Our double bill celebrates an exciting voice in contemporary Italian cinema.

Two Films by  Roan Johnson

TWO FILMS BY  ROAN JOHNSON

The bonds of love and friendship are forged and tested in the films of Roan Johnson. The English-Italian director graduated to the majors when his 2016 film Piuma played in competition at the Venice Film Festival, and our double bill celebrates this exciting rising star of European cinema.

The bonds of love and friendship are forged and tested in the films of Roan Johnson. The English-Italian director graduated to the majors when his 2016 film Piuma played in competition at the Venice Film Festival, and our double bill celebrates this exciting rising star of European cinema.