Philosopher Noam Chomsky and director Ken Loach, two of the most influential figures of our time, are set to appear together, via video link, for the first time at an unmissable event at Rome’s Cinema Troisi on September 20.
They will be the guests of honour at an evening of debate, covering the most important challenges of our time.
Radical critics of economic, social and power structures, the two will be connected to the theatre via live stream, respectively from the United States and London, from 19:30.
They will discuss the issues that have been at the centre of their intellectual and cinematographic reflections for several years.
Social justice, war, rights, jobs and politics will be just some of the issues that they will address during the evening which, by explicit request of the two guests, will prioritise debate with the public, inviting participants to take part in a collective reading of current affairs.
“Noam Chomsky immediately accepted the invitation, stressing his desire to speak to young people,” said Valerio Carocci, president of the Piccolo America association that is organizing the event.
“But we also thought that we couldn’t miss the chance to organize the first debate between him and Ken Loach, who was a guest at the “Il Cinema in Piazza” initiative in 2021.
“They are both among our main intellectual reference points: they have two clear, visionary outlooks that have always made us address the injustices of our society.
“Given the historic period that we are going through that is so profoundly characterized by uncertainty, conflict and serious economic and social imbalances, we couldn’t imagine better speakers than giants like Chomsky and Loach to reflect on the present and discuss the future.
“Seeking new languages and critical, free, constructive thought seems to us to be the first step to take towards a new world that is possible and, as both would say, necessary.”
The date of the event was not chosen by chance.
“It is the first birthday of the new Cinema Troisi, and since it opened it has become the one-screen cinema in Italy to attract the highest number of spectators.”
Noam Chomsky will open the event and, after a brief speech, the floor will be opened to a Q&A session with the public in which everyone is invited to speak.
Then Ken Loach will log on for a public debate with Chomsky, which has no precedent despite the many past meetings that the two have taken part in.
The event will be broadcast via live stream, on the Piccolo America Facebook page and on the www.cinematroisi.it website.
The participants at the cinema will then be able to watch Riff-Raff (1991, 95 min - Original version with Italian subtitles), directed by Ken Loach.
The film was chosen in agreement with both.
The event was organized in collaboration with Confronti magazine.
