AN ITALIAN restaurant in Temple Bar? Keep still thy beating heart and quell thy cynicism. 

AN 80 year old from Naples has delved into an old box of sentimental ephemera and turned it into a book. 

The opening performance of Der Vampyr was late at night and the auditorium was transformed into a broodingly mysterious forest. The audience was riveted by the action, which was melodramatic and fast-moving.

A unique filmic portrait of Cork will be premiered at Ireland’s newest film festival for independent film makers next week.

SHE was the ultimate blonde sex symbol, an ex-Miss Sweden and the toast of the Hollywood ‘3B’ glamour culture of the day — blonde, busty and bold.

EVER wonder what showtime must have been like at Rome’s Colosseum? Cast your mind back to Ireland and Italy’s recent rugby showdown at the Stadio Olimpico. The Six Nations is as close as rugby gets to all-out gladiatorial combat: by the time the Irish and Italian teams were done tearing chunks out of each other, bruised and battered bodies were legion.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo has climbed to the top of the British Film Institute’s poll of the greatest films ever made, dislodging Citizen Kane for the first time in 50 years.

WHILE the Oscars is an overblown act of worship of Hollywood by Hollywood, where the stars and directors are perceived as gods, the Cannes Film Festival is a bit more European.

Foot-tapping, tune-whistling it ain’t … which is more than a bit unfortunate for a film touting itself as a musical.

Madonna’s first film as director received a less than enthusiastic reception from critics today.

Federico Fellini’s The White Sheik (Optimum, €24.99) is another mesmerising work from the Italian genius.

Poised with his camera outside Rome’s elegant Hassler hotel, the King of Paparazzi is waiting to get a shot.

Two Federico Fellini films have just been released for the first time - I Vitelloni and Juliet of the Spirits (Nouveaux).

Fellini’s La Strada (Optimum) remains as enjoyable to watch now as on its original release, and essential viewing for any cinema lover.