(15 March 2016) An accusing finger, an invocation to the Heavens, a shaking fist… It’s no mystery that Italian is a language of gestures as much as words, it’s a distinctive feature as famous as Italian coffee, pizza, gelato and fashion. And so why not learn all about Italian gestures, what they mean and how to use them in a meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 7 at 6:30pm at the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco (601 Van Ness Ave, Suite). The appointment is promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, and it stars Luca Vullo, author, teacher, director, and film producer who has lived in London for years. In the UK, Vullo embarked on a successful tour for the screening of the documentary “La voce del corpo,” which will be presented now in San Francisco, and holding seminars on Italian non-verbal communication at UCL, Bristol University, King’s College, and Cambridge. The documentary film – already screened in Australia, the US, Germany, Denmark and Norway – introduces foreign audiences to the magic of Italian gestures (especially the Sicilian ones). Emotions aren’t only expressed with words, and body language and hand gestures often play a much larger role in communicating them than words. Italians use about 250 gestures to communicate each day, and each of these gestures can be translated into words and concepts to express feelings, personal characteristics, and even insults. But why do Italians speak with their hands? Are they able to speak without gestures? The director and producer will entertain the audience with a practical and fun demonstration: “The public will learn common gestures, how to use body language in conversation, how to express emotions and feelings through their body, faces and hands, exploring the symbols and gestures needed to visit Italy,” explains the Institute in a note. Currently, Vullo is working on a new documentary on Italian emigration in London in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy and the Consulate General of Italy in London. (Gil)
