Hot Topics:

Taylor, Hurt attend 'Lesson 21'

Movie is directorial debut of Italian novelist Baricco

Doc fest looks back and inward

Premieres dominate Santa Barbara fest

Rubin in talks to co-run Columbia

'City,' 'Lights' come out atop Jussis

Goteborg film fest gets new topper

Summit's 'Twilight' dilemma(7406 views)

Spirit Award nominations announced(5418 views)

Jackson, del Toro still working on 'Hobbit' scripts(2161 views)

Nicole Richie lands ABC project(1473 views)

Steven Seagal Lawman(1359 views)

'Hurt Locker' tops Gotham Awards(1245 views)

ROME � Noah Taylor and John Hurt will topline Italo novelist Alessandro Baricco's directorial debut "Lesson 21," an English-language drama inspired by Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

Pic about a student (Taylor) blown away by a potent lecture about the peace-themed ode made by a mad music professor (Hurt), is produced by Domenico Procacci's Fandango in association with RAI Cinema, which will distribute in Italy.

Rare case of an Italo work in English and starring no local thesps in lead roles will start shooting in the Italian Alps February 12.

While several of Baricco's internationally bestselling books have been made into movies � most recently Picturehouse's Keira Knightley-starrer "Silk," helmed by Francois Girard � this one is based on unpublished material by the scribe.

Also cast in "Lesson" are Leonor Watling ("Talk to Her") and Clive Russell ("King Arthur").