A standing ovation greeted Sophia Loren at the theater of the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, a renowned institution in the world of cinema. The audience, sold out for weeks, celebrated the actress’s ninetieth birthday, which she celebrated on September 20, in conjunction with the inauguration of a retrospective dedicated to her performances.
“Being here is really special to me,” Loren began, her voice calm and confident. She then shared her experience of living during World War II in Pozzuoli, where fear and hunger characterized her childhood. The cinema, she explained, was a source of escape and hope: “When the lights went down, my reality disappeared. That little silver screen was my window into a fairytale world.” The daughter of art Edoardo Ponti supported the actress during her speech, describing her as “a real star” not only for her professional success but also for the simplicity she exudes in every gesture.
The festival, titled “Sophia Loren: The Diva of Naples”, was organized by Cinecittà and the Academy Museum. It opened with the restored 4K screening of La Ciociara, a film directed by Vittorio De Sica that earned her the Palme d’Or at Cannes and an Oscar in 1962, a historic recognition as the first actress to be awarded for a role in a language other than English. Until November 30, the public will be able to watch the screening of ten iconic films from Loren’s career. Among them are works such as:
Concluding her speech, Loren reflected on time: “I am ninety years old, but in my heart I am still that little girl who dreamed of a better tomorrow.” Her words resonated with the audience as an invitation to continue dreaming together. The retrospective is not only a tribute to an extraordinary career; it is also an opportunity to rediscover the lasting impact Sophia Loren has had on cinema and global popular culture.
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