La Dolce Vita...on Wood St

CELEBBY photographer Rankin is bringing rare images to Liverpool this week.

This time, not his own but those depicting a subject that he says had the biggest influence on his work: Italian style in film.

But if you want to celebrate the Dolce Vita you had better be snappy.

Peroni-Italian Style on the Silver Screen runs until Saturday only at FACT. It will include images curated by renowned photgrapher Rankin and Italian fashion writer, film expert and cultural commentator Anna Battista – with the help of Italian brewers Peroni-Italian Nazzuro - exploring the relationship between Italian fashion design and film making, image making and characterisation.

Classic Italian films such as Bellissima and La Dolce Vita are joined by contemporary titles such as American Psycho and Romanzo Criminale in the collection.

Rankin, who has photographed the Queen, Tony Blair, and, more importantly, Liverpool Confidential's editor, Angie Sammons, said: “The influence that Italian film has had on me if significant. Cinema Paradiso is without question, my favourite film of all time and has had a profound impact on my life both personally and professionally.”

Co-curator Anna Battista said: “In Italy, fashion and cinema have always had a huge influence on each other creatively: they feed each other. When the two are brought together with the artistry and skill this exhibition showcases, they have the power to arouse real depth of emotion on the screen.”

The collection has been sources from a number of archives including the British Film Institute, Florence-based Ferragamo Musuem, the Archivio Storico Foto Locchi, the Fondazione Micol Fontana, the Archivo Storico Fernanda Gattinoni and the Archivo Storico del Cinema and the Centro Cineme Cittá di Cesena.

Jason Maling of Peroni Nastro Azzuro said: “Peroni is proud to be co-curator of such an important exhibition. Through the selection of stunning images, this exhibition will give viewers a rich and colourful snapshot of Italian style and grace as it has been captured on film.”

*Peroni-Italian Style on the Silver Screen, FACT, Wood St, L1 is open to the public from 1st March until 5th March. Opening hours are 10am-9pm Tuesday-Saturday and 11am-9pm on Sunday.