10 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 28, 1994
Say 'Ciao' to the kids in 'Professore!'
BEAMING WITH PRIDE & GLORY
, > . .1 '. Ia .. Y. r; r. ,yI k ; '," . '
By SARAH STEWART
Regardless of the fact that everyone
started out as a child, there seem to be
two kinds of people: those who like
cast - which gives the film its fresh
realism - is composed of Neapolitan
kids who were recruited directly off the
street by director Lina Wertmuller.
All the amateur actors share an en-
thusiasm that is necessary for any le-
gitimate portrayal of children. In some
sense, it's hard to conceive of real
students speaking as aggressively to
their teachers as these kids do to Sperelli,
but their sincere faces and realistically
anxious speeches makes all the crude
talk of "fart jockeys" and "shitheads"
believable and funny.
When Vincenzino (Adriano
CIao,
Profossoro!
Directed by ina
Wertmuller; with
Paolo Villaggio
and Isa Danieli.
kids and those who don't.
As a celebration of the promise of
youth, the Italian comedy "Ciao,
Professore!" will easily satisfy mem-
bers of the first category and might
even change the opinion of the second
group, even if it is only for the duration
of the film.
. "Ciao" revolves around a bunch of
third-graders who, despite being
strangely irresistible, look like they
just walked off the stage of a produc-
tion of "Oliver." They look nothing
like their dignified, albeit rotund, new
teacher, Marco Sperelli (Paolo
Villaggio).
Although he's ultimately drawn into
their unconventional appeal, earrings
and all, "Maestro" Sperelli originally
wants to be teaching different children
in a different place. Because of a bu-
reaucratic error, he's been sent to Ma-
fioso-ridden, poverty-stricken Corzano
in Southern Italy, instead of Corsano in
the more refined North. The first thing
he does is apply for a transfer.
In the meantime, Sperelli is faced
with a group of students who don't
want to be confined to his classroom
anymore than he wants to be their
teacher. They'd rather be working to
help support their families, sleeping
because they help support their fami-
lies or strengthening their future by
cultivating a head start as Mafioso.
They act like little adults, swearing and
strutting with more confidence than
Kris Kross. Fortunately, Sperelli never
forgets that kids are kids. He manages
to leave Corzano having learned and
taught that children, when given the
chance, can be given hope for some-
thing better.
a . Without directly quoting the words
of Whitney Houston, the beauty of
"Ciao" lies in the children. The young
Pantaleo) tells Sperelli that he's a work-
ing boy and doesn't have time for
school, he convincingly captures the
desired effect of acting like a miniature
adult; his hands fly, his words race and
his eyes widen. Sperelli raises his eye-
brow in response to this dynamic so-
liloquy, and the audience is likely to do
the same.
It may sound trite, but Villaggio's
performance is a tribute to teachers
whose influence goes beyond the du-
ties of instructor. He embodies enough
dignity to be worthy of passing on his
own wisdom but at the same time pos-
sesses a humility that leaves him wiser
for having interacted with his Corzano
kids. From apurely American perspec-
tive, his frustration with the principal's
(Isa Danieli) unprincipled attitude is a
reminder that educational dilemmas
are not unique to the United States.
Although "Ciao" has no critical
flaws, it is not a film of epic propor-
tions; it's cute kids relaying a non-
revolutionary message of hope. But for
once, it's fun to be able to stick up for
the little guys.
CIA O, PROFESSORE! is playing at
the Michigan Theater.
At last, a band with enough genius and balls to bring Sabbath and Skynyrd
together: Pride & Glory. Led by Ozzy Osboume guitarist Zakk Wylde, the
band will kick out the jams this Saturday. They'll be rocking the Ritz; call
778-8150 for details. Bring a babe and have a beer and don't forget to rock.
Continued from page 8
versa. I might have some lyrics and he
might have some music. We both play
guitar and we both write lyrics."
But what really inspires Ween to be
creative is the good time they have
making music. "We're trying to amuse
ourselves, if you wanna know the truth.
We're trying to have a good time. And
we do, and that's why we keep going."
However, not everybody shares Dean
and Gene's sense of humor. About
those who just don't get it, Dean says,
"Oh, I don't know. They just have a
problem, I think. People think we in-
tentionally try to piss off politically
correct people, but we don't, not on
purpose. Iguess we do anyway. I'm not
hung-up about certain things in my life;
I'll do anything to have a good time. In
rock'n' roll especially, if you're gonna
be all PC and conscious and stuff, you
better subtract all the greatest rock 'n'
roll from your system immediately.
"And it's just getting worse and
worse; it wasn't always this way, you
know? Classically, rock in the'70s was
very dick-oriented thing; not that I be-
lieve in that, but people never gave Ted
Nugent shit about being a bow-hunt-
ing, beer-drinking, out-looking-for-
pussy kinda guy. It was acceptable;
there wasn't a question of 'How can
you say these horrible things?' And
you don't take it too seriously. I don't
like music that's all politically correct
and conscious. It sucks! I'm more into
the Lynrd Skynrd ethic," he explained.
While some people see Ween as
offensive, still others see them as a
novelty act, which also bothers Dean.
"A lot of people have said really ter-
rible things about us, but there's other
people who know exactly what we're
doing. I don't think we're a novelty
band anyway, because we write good
songs. We would never try and take the
piss out of anybody. A lot of people try
and parody shit, but we would never try
and do that. 'Oh, that's the Prince song,
that's the Mexican song,' that's what
people say to us, but that's not what
we're trying to do at all. It all sounds
like Ween to me.
"We're not parodying Mexicans;
we're trying to make good songs and
have fun with it. That's the problem, I
think, when you're funny and having
fun - our stuff can be funny - you're
not allowed to do that and be serious at
the same time. Fuck it, we never think*
about stuff like that. We can't."
Fortunately, having fun hasn't im-
peded the Ween brothers' career;
"Chocolate and Cheese" is the band's
second album for Elektra, and Dean is
happy at his new home: "Yeah, I like it
very much. We've never tried to do
anything for ourselves but make the
music. I think good things have come
our way because of it. We got our first.
record deal with Twin Tone by acci-
dent, and Kramer called us and said he
wanted to make a record with us, and
Elektra contacted us. We've nevertried
to get gigs or record deals. We put all of
our energy into the music, and I think
it's paid off."
But don't think that Ween don't
care about success: "I would like to be
mega-successful, as big as Sinatra,"
We'vesaidthatsincewe were15or16,
and I think we can get there doing
exactly what we're doing now, be-
cause we can write good pop songs -
and I think the day will come when we
have a number one record." Perhaps
they will, one day. But this Saturday
you can see the "massive retardation,"
as Dean calls it, of Ween live. It's sure
to be an, ahem, stimulating experience.
Consider yourself at home, consider yourself ... Wait, is this "Ciao, Professore!" or a revival of "Oliver!"?
cows
Continued from page 9
wanna wear it. It was a woman, and she
gotpretty upset when I told herIwanted
to wear it. I think she thought I was
gonna wear it and have some guy bend
me over and fuck me while he pre-
tended I was a doll or something. She
turned beet red, got a nervous giggle,
and said 'Well, I never heard that one
before.' I was really proud of myself. I
was also with another guy, and he got
really embarrassed because he figured
she was thinking he was the guy who
was gonna fuck me. He turned beet red
and left the shop in a big hurry."
The Cows seem to be awash in the
controversial. If it's not themselves,
it's their opening acts. "Two police
officers got killed here recently (in
Minneapolis," related Selberg. "And
the opening band at a show we just
played, Ghost Dance Deluxe, cut out
the headline "Two Police Officers
Slain" and crossed out "Police Offic-
ers" and wrote in "Pigs." They fliered
it all over town and the police got hold
of it and gave it to the mayor. They said
if that band played at our show, they
were going to show up with 400 uni-
formed officers in front of the stage,
and just watch. They weren't allowed
to play by the club. They showed the
flier on the news. There were like 1200
people at the show."
So remember: controversy pays.
THE COWS will play tonight at Club
Hell (19106 Woodward). Tickets are
only $7, and they've got some at
Schoolkid's, but they don't have any
at TicketMaster. Doors at 8 p.m. for
those 18 and over. Call (313) 368-
9687 for info.
I . . r--7 -.,
WEEN are playing Saturday night at
St. Andrews Hall. Doors open at 9
p.m. for those 18 and over. It's $10.
Motocaster opens. Call 961-MELT.
a
(94
Major Events Listing
Friday
October 28, 1994
Saturday
October 29, 1994
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Evans Scholars Car Bash
2:00pm @ Diag
Homecoming Parade
4:30pm @ South University, State St.,
North University
ROTC Haunted House
7:00pm @ North Hall
UAC Presents
Go Blue Brunch
9:00am @ Track and Tennis Building
61st Annual Mud Bowl
10:00am @ Sigma Alpha Epsilon House
Homecoming Pep Rally/Comedy Concert
7:30 @ Hill Auditorium
Homecoming Game
Michigan v. Wisconsin
12:10pm @ Michigan Stadium
ROTC Haunted House
7:00pm @ North Hall
UAC Presents
Violent Femmes
8:00 @ Hill Auditorium
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