Richard Gere Reads Italo Calvino at New York University

Golden Globe-winning actor Richard Gere reads from the new translation of Italo Calvino's Baron in the Trees (1957, 2017 translation by Ann Goldstein).
Richard Gere in conversation with Giovanna Calvino and Stefano Albertini.
Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò
New York University
October 25, 2017

[@bonuebonue]

I was impressed by the knowledge and deep of thoughts of Mr. Gere. And Giovanna wonderful participation!!: her eyes and smile (and her kind shyness) are the same of her big Father! Ans she opened perspectives to understand the work of Italo Calvino that I didn't knew. I enjoyed this encounter very much, I learned much about Calvino and congratulations for this nice initiative. Thank you!

[@Vincenzo-wn1or]

One of the most magical tales ever, and best kept secrets. What a mind Calvino possessed.

[@naomibrik8843]

Bellissimo! Grazie

[@pr-ji1ni]

"I wish I could read this in Italian... but I can't." Bro, just the fact that he pronounced his name properly, instead of the horrid mispronunciation most English speakers do, was enough. In Italo, the strong syllable is the I, not the Ta. Well done Richard for understanding that.

[@pravj1359]

buonasera

[@cav.edwardjacksonabd9333]

Mi fa grande piacere a condividere i miei pensieri per quanto riguarda mia esperienza alla Casa Italiana Zirilli-Marimo'. Sono un socio della "Casa" per tanti anni. Quando ricevo l'invito dalla 'Casa' ad assistere un avvenimento ci vado con piacere perche' mi da' un opportunita' ad essere in Italia senza di partire dagli States. Veramente, Italia e' mia seconda casa all'estero e ci vado spesso. Quando mi trovo alla 'Casa' posso coprirmi ancora nella cultura italiana ed anche riesco communicare in italiano con le persone che hanno la voglia a rispondere. Per quanto riguarda i programmi, la 'Casa' ci promuove la cultura italiana e la lingua a tutti quanti che ha la voglia ad abbracciarli. Mi piacerebbe di ringraziare la 'Baronessa' Zirilli-Marimo' per il suo dono prezioso alla communita' italiana di nuovo York ed anche a quelli che apprezzano la cultura italiana ed anche la lingua Italiana. Mi creda, Suo.

[@mirandac8712]

È una delle grandi istituzioni della città e vorrei che gli altri ambasciatori culturali europei ne prendessero nota!

[@lauracousins8329]

Marino has a gift of love to her Italian community and her culture . Richard Gere also has a gift of love too

[@lauracousins8329]

Your funny Richard Gere whacky crazy like that statement😂

[@massimotronci9389]

Viva la Sardegna!

[@bensoco]

"Let's take this beautiful story, written by a man who loved his country and his language -- so much so that he traveled all around its libraries to collect local fairy tales & folk lore written in Italian dialects and compile it -- yeah, let's take this guy's beautiful story and Americanize it. We can throw in some other cultures that we subjugated too, to add flavor. Native Americans, slave culture, oh this wild of ours. Oh and we can hire a few supporting characters with Italian accents and last names for authentic flair." Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but c'mon Richard Gere. That shit is formulaic and part of the reason Hollywood is stagnant. Take a risk and do something that doesn't center around America, please. Until then I'm with Mrs. Calvino. Keep those rights on lockdown.

[@theworldofintellectuals8754]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJq9aWyFnsqcl7c

[@suncity22001]

he said he is there to honour his writing he is a fan , whats wrong with that..

[@Snaveltong]

Gere shouldve talked less bs and read more calvino

[@bencellini4200]

No Richard. Maybe you are there to celebrate Calvino, but the real tifosi are there for the new translation. A translators depth of knowledge of both languages is critical in conveying the author's meaning and skill as a wordsmith. If you knew anything of literature you would understand this. To say " I wish I could read this in Italian" is an insult to Ms Goldsteins' hard work and learning.

[@valentinasettomini2351]

I think this is a bit harsh :) Of course, he could put more emphasis on the magnitude of the effort of creating a good translation, true, but it's simply a compliment towards Italian he wish he knew it better

[@oznerolnavi3772]

It’s not true, some things are just unconveyable without footnotes or something like that. If you can read it in its original language, then by all means do it.

[@albertopoli3482]

Better if you listen to what he says in 44:57