Italian Films

[A face]

Gomorra - 2008

An inside look at Italy's modern-day crime families. Based on a book by Roberto Saviano.

"Gomorra, a contemporary Neapolitan mob drama based on an expose of Italy's criminal underbelly by Roberto Saviano, published in the U.S. by Farrar, Strauss & Giraux. That non-fiction book is so hard-hitting that mob threats have forced Saviano into hiding"

[A face]

Mediterraneo - 1991

An Italian ship leaves a handful of soldiers in a little island; their mission is to spot enemy ships and to hold the island in case of attack. The village of the island seems abandoned and there isn't a single enemy in sight, so the soldiers begin to relax a little. Actually, the island isn't deserted and when the Greeks understand that those Italians are harmless, they came out of their hiding places in the mountains and continue their peaceful lives. Soon the soldiers discover that being left behind in a God-forgotten Greek island isn't such a bad thing, after all...

[A face]

Il Postino - 1994

Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet, is exiled to a small island for political reasons. On the island, the unemployed son of a poor fisherman is hired as an extra postman due to the huge increase in mail that this causes. Il Postino is to hand-deliver the celebrity's mail to him. Though poorly educated, the postman learns to love poetry and eventually befriends Neruda. Struggling to grow and express himself more fully, he suddenly falls in love and needs Neruda's help and guidance more than ever.

[jebus]

Cinema Paradiso is about as perfect as cinema can get

Told in flashback, it tells the story of the return to his native Sicilian village of a successful film director Salvatore for the funeral of his old friend Alfredo, who was the projectionist at the local "Cinema Paradiso". Ultimately, Alfredo serves as a wise father figure to his young friend who only wishes the best to see him succeed, even if it means breaking his heart in the process.

The film intertwines sentimentality with comedy, and nostalgia with pragmaticism. It explores issues of youth, coming of age, and reflections (in adulthood) about the past. The imagery in each scene can be said to reflect Salvatore's idealised memories about his childhood. Cinema Paradiso is also a celebration of films; as a projectionist, young Salvatore (a.k.a Totò) develops the passion for films that shape his life path in adulthood.

[A face]

Romanzo Criminale - 2005

https://www.romanzocriminale.it

Romanzo Criminale (Crime Novel) is an Italian-language film released in 2005, directed by Michele Placido, a criminal drama, it was highly acclaimed and won 15 awards. It is based on Giancarlo De Cataldo's 2002 novel, which is in turn inspired by the Banda della Magliana true story. The Magliana gang was one of the most powerful Italian criminal associations, dominating Rome's drug, gambling and other kinds of crime activities from the early 1970s to 1992 (death of Enrico De Pedis).

[HarpoJoyce]

Battle of Algiers

I'm not sure if this is an Official Italian film. But the FLN in Algeria commisioned Gillo Pontecorvo to make a film based on the conflict of the Liberation war.


French paras trying to break a FLN sponsored General Strike before the FLN stated timetable.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=185849

Guardian Obit. of Pontecorvo

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/oct/14/guardianobituaries.obituaries

I think some of the post-production was done in Italy (IIRC)

[Heliodorus]

Nights of Cabiria tells the story of the out of luck but optimistic prostitute. Directed by Fellini and starring his wife Giulietta Masina who puts in a great performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2liq5x1164&feature=related

[ken foree]

Battle of Algiers

I'm not sure if this is an Official Italian film. But the FLN in Algeria commisioned Gillo Pontecorvo to make a film based on the conflict of the Liberation war.
(IIRC)

oof! terrific film, a wild ride and heart-wrenching. portrays both sides of the conflict, to me, very well. i was lucky enough to see it in the cinema here a while back, great experience, tough to watch at times.

il postino is a lovely film, that's the neruda one right. heard v. good things about meditteraneo and cinema paradiso. you might check out 'life is beautiful' which i believe is an italian film, a strange musical about a boy and his son surviving a concentration camp. i don't know much about the italian greats but they've made a few decent movies in their time i hear

i really like a couple of michelangelo antonioni's movies, 'blow up' and 'the passenger' - the first is hipster 60s london with hitchcockian twists and the 2nd is a strange thriller in the north african desert with jack nicholson. both really worth it.

[superfrank]

Haven't seen the entire film but Blow Up has a brilliant performance from the Yardbirds in it.

Cinema Paradiso is a really good film but it's not a patch on Amarcord.

[The Apostle]

Rome Open City, Virdiania and most films by Felini are quite good.

[Closed Account 2]

"Buongiorno, notte" (Goodmorning, Night) is a great film from about 5 years ago. It's based on the kidnapping of ex-Italian PM Aldo Moro in Rome in the 1970s. It's a bit like Romanzo Criminale with more substance.

[osarusan]

Umberto D is, in my opinion, the best film the best Italian director (Vittorio de Sica) ever made.

[John83]

Divorce, Italian Style is a great comedy.

[McNasara]

Life Is Beautiful
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118799/

[pablo1020]

Most amazing story of young men: 'Malèna' with Monica Bellucci: