5 Wonderful Italian Movies You Would Like To See
- Jan 1, 2019
- 4 min read
Astonishing Italian movies that will bring you into the middle of their culture and stories of the past.
The movies listed are my favorite escape into cinematic life. Many people, many tastes. In my case, I prefer stories connected to history or real-life events.
The other important aspect and why I have chosen these ones: you can listen to the beautiful Italian language!
If you will be able to hear and watch these stories many times and watch it with subtitles, I bet you will be starting to catch phrases, even some odd, but later on, it can be a good base to continue learning Italian.
2 years ago, I was extremely lucky to experience one enriching masterclass during film festival with the set designer of Sorrentino´s TV series Young Pope, which is one of the latest Italian TV series.
Her name is Ludovica Ferrario and did a stunning job on Young Pope, but also on other movies that she was working on.
There was a discussion on the process behind the scenes of Young Pope but also question about Italian cinematography. It is not surprising, that its funding and existence is decreasing, sadly there are studios being closed and there are less and fewer movies being produced, compared to years of 20th century.
As we know, Italy was important cinematographic empire, and many Italian migrants were able to run a business of film industry by its beginning in America.
It is fascinating how the world is changing and evolving. I still believe there will be many brave artists, that will find the courage ( and funding!!! ) to record amazing stories and makes us inspired by their visions.
So what are great Italians movies to take a look at?
There we go.
1. La Grande Bellezza /
The Great Beauty
2013
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Director of Photography: Luca Bigazzi
Starring: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferrili
Set in Rome, following story and thoughts of the famous writer. Remarkable ride through the upper society of Rome, lifestyle, party, drugs, hidden truths.
Every time I see this movie, I find some new motifs, symbols, I can always admire something different.
An incredible atmosphere which makes you wish to be on the rooftop of houses in Rome and talk about matters of life and to realize what is important before it is too late.
2. La Vita E Bella/
Life Is Beautiful
1997
Director: Roberto Benigni
Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini
I recommend watching this movie when you are in a good psychologic mood, surrounded by friends.
Themes of the Holocaust are important to talk, important to tell its stories and to be always aware of extremism.
This movie tells the story of an individual person during extremely odd events with incredible humor. Still, it is a heavy and terrible history, that is going on here.
To be honest, I will watch this story after some time will pass. Definitely not easy one but as I noted, extremely important.
3. In Guerra Per Amore /
At war for love
2016
Director: Pif
Starring: Pif, Miriam Leone, Andrea Di Stefano
Nice entertaining story of love, end of Second World War, and the rise of power of Mafia on Sicilia.
Beautiful camera work, so pleasant colors and the story that makes you be in the middle of the sounds of World War and its daily pictures of America and Italy.
4. Il Gattopardo/
The Leopard
1963
Director: Luchino Visconti
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale
Huge set and fabulous costumes.
Style of past times, a period of the end of 19th century, the story is set in Sicilia.
The story will not change your life but will bring you closer to their history and lifestyle of higher society and will make you more understanding how the mentality of the 20th century had been formed.
For everyone, who is at least a bit interested in cinematographic work, this peace is a huge piece of work.
5. La Dolce Vita/
The Sweet Life
Director: Federico Fellini
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée
Notoriously famous movie, but less famous story.
This movie is full of imaginary images, that can only happen in Fellini´s movies. It gives you uplifting mood, strange ideas... Was really Rome like this? Decadent? Lazy? Or is it simply cinematographic style?
Anyhow it is, it is important creation in the cinematographic world, and created incredibly famous images of the main character having fun with musicians, fountain scene.
You need to see this as part of cinematographic education. One reason more if you are heading to Rome!
This movie was one of few Italian movies preserved and reconstructed by Gucci Foundation. I found this information in Gucci Museo in Florence. And it is a simply amazing fact. I have seen scenes of the film before reconstruction and after. Today we can see this film in nice quality thanks to this reconstruction.
I hope this short list will make you love Italian culture and its crafts even more. Furthermore, I hope you will be happy to explore their photographic and storytelling styles.
As always, I wish you a pleasant experience while watching these movies. What could be even more interesting is, if these stories or your stay in Italy would inspire you to create your own pieces of art. The other idea would be to find your favourite movie scenes and then what a magic moment to appear at their real locations in Italy! Enjoy.
Karolinska 2019
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