"BIGGER THAN CINEMA ITSELF ROBERTO ROSSELLINI IS 100 YEARS OLD" "Here we are." "Stand there." "And now, Miss, I will demonstrate to you what one cigarette can do." "Please, please, move your hand closer." " Now watch this..." " It's hot, isn't it?" "See?" "Not just here, either, look over there." "Over there, everywhere." "Simultaneously, the steam increases all over." "Again..." " Can I try?" " But of course." "Here..." " I'll take that." " Thank you." "UNDERSEA FANTASY" "Once upon a time..." "this is how all stories begin  and this is how we shall begin as well." "Anyway, once upon a time, there was a remote little place deep under the sea." "Peaceful, just like all the deep-sea places when there is no storm raging above." "Since the sea was particularly clear down there  the sun's rays would filter down  and flirt placidly with the calm waters." "And would provide strange lights for the elegant and grotesque dance  played out by the inhabitants of this peculiar world  the atmosphere and landscape evoking a feeling of great serenity." "A little bream, young and bright, a tad thoughtless but quite shrewd  leaves his house, as cool as can be, for his usual afternoon stroll  a stroll that should very soon turn into a romantic one." "In fact, his girl is not far away." "But..." "The appearance of a scorpion fish forces our hero to change his route." "The scorpion fish boasts a mean reputation." "Whoever gets in his path, he destroys." "Our little bream nervously returns to his stroll, and while  trying to ignore a mounting feeling of superstition  mulls this luckiest of escapes over inside his head." "At once he runs into a gastronomic trap." "Before him dances a piece of food, enticing and tempting, moved by a treacherous hand." "But our little bream is ready." "He didn't escape that scorpion fish for nothing  and experience teaches him to always distrust anything that comes from humans." "But there are others, his friends, for whom experience does not always help  because greed can cause them to forget." "Therefore our hero decides to neutralise the threat  in the most simple and practical way." "With a blow from of his tail he foils the trap." "... and brings great satisfaction to the appetite of his friends." "The stroll is resumed." "But not far away a new ambush awaits." "An octopus." "What prey would better suit its tentacles than our little bream  so tender and chubby." "The monster, already looking forward to the this delicious meal  lies in wait, ready to spring up when the victim comes within range ." "The little bream, strangely attracted, moves closer  his mind warns him away but he cannot help but move towards it." "With a desperate dash, he comes to his senses and tries to escape." "A tentacle seizes him." "The little bream appears lost  as does our story." "But with one last effort he instead manages to free himself." "The monster resigns himself to following, but our friend wants the last laugh." "His movements are so swift and silent  that the octopus passes by below." "The little bream looks to find a way to escape but the octopus closes in  having decided to take revenge." "Luckily, by chance he runs straight into a tunnel owned by a moray eel." "A plea for help is answered with courageous boldness by the eel  who bares his frightful teeth to the octopus." "A fight begins." "A fascinating fight between two adversaries of a similar power." "The octopus delivers his first blow." "The moray eel is losing ground  and starts to feel overwhelmed." "The octopus' attacks continue  and the moray eel, though feeling lost, makes a tenacious stand of resistance." "Trembling with distress, the little bream leaves in search of assistance..." "He desperately asks the first friends he meets for help." "These companions call for reinforcements and the warning passes from mouth to mouth  and in a flash the word spreads." "The bravest react instinctively  and line-up in formation, while the old crab hides himself  scratching his head with worry." "The efforts, however, will be insufficient  an obliging lobster lends his antennae to the little bream." "The radio works marvellously." "The call is made, and a huge crowd gathers around to help  and begins to move towards the fight between the octopus and the moray eel." "By now, the heroic and generous moray eel is surrendering to his powerful enemy." "The mass of fish is uncertain whether to attack right away or wait for other reinforcements." "When a second moray eel intervenes, the fish launch themselves forward  towards the octopus." "Violently, the fight begins once again." "The amazingly strong octopus, however  overcomes his new adversary as well." "The entire population of fish descend swiftly upon the predator." "Who, surprised, is stunned by bites from his two adversaries  and tries to escape these tiny new enemies." "But, pursued and surrounded  he cannot avoid the battle." "Nibbled and attacked  from every angle, frustrating his assailants with his tentacles  the octopus tries to make way and looks for a way to escape." "The fish strike incessantly while new crowds  arrive as reinforcements." "One of the two moray eels, regaining his strength, teams up for an attack  sinking his teeth into the flesh of the enemy." "With one last effort, the octopus manages to free himself and escape." "But, exhausted from the fight, he doesn't see a large rock  and hits his head before falling to the floor, limp and exhausted." "Peace has returned to the bottom of the sea." "Everything seems much better." "The water, even clearer." "The sun's rays, even brighter." "But, our little bream is sad and alone." "Disconsolately, he resumes his stroll  thinking of that romantic meeting that never even took place." "He lost sight of his companion during the struggle and has lost her, perhaps forever." "His pain is even more bitter when he spots two cuttlefish that are flirting." "The pair, without a care in the world, kiss each another slowly  lost in the moment." "But, our hero's companion is not hurt." "Those in love are always protected  and never remain apart for long, even in the depths of the sea." "And the story concludes like all stories:" "happily ever after."