Italian cinema has had a huge impact on the world of film and has been the birthplace and home of many famous names and genres – from Federico Fellini and Sofia Loren, to the productions of Cinecittà and the Spaghetti Westerns, Italian films have been loved worldwide for decades. There are countless celebrated titles, but we’d like to share with you a selection of our favourite Italian films, all with very different stories and characters, but with the common theme of laugh-out-loud moments and feel-good finales.
Pane, amore e…
Looking for a spot of escapism? Then this classic Italian movie is for you! Pane, amore, e… (otherwise known as Scandal in Sorrento in English) is a brilliant 1955 film starring Sofia Loren and set in the stunning town of Sorrento. It tells the tale of Antonio who returns to his hometown and wants to move back into his house which is currently being rented by Sofia. Sofia has other ideas however and eventually a comical love triangle and ruse develop. With beautiful Mediterranean scenery, a comedy-filled plot and lots of memorable moments, this film is a must, and a real feel-good treat.
Johnny Stecchino
With this 90s comedy classic Roberto Benigni shot to fame, and it’s easy to see why. In this hilarious film, Benigni plays two characters – a local bus driver named Dante and a mafioso named Johnny Stecchino. Unfortunately for Dante, he is the spitting image of the mobster, who is currently being hunted down by other mafiosi. When Stecchino’s wife meets Dante, she devises a plan involving Dante posing as Stecchino, and tries to direct the mafiosi towards him instead of her husband. As you can imagine, things don’t quite go to plan!
Benvenuto Presidente
When a local librarian and fishing aficionado from a small mountain village in Piedmont – Giuseppe Garibaldi – is accidentally voted in as the Italian President, the country’s politics soon take an amusing and unconventional turn. His initial shock and protest at being transported down to Rome soon eases off however, as he decides to take it upon himself to fix the country’s problems. How will Italy fare under the hand of Giuseppe? Find out in this hilarious Italian comedy!
L’incredibile storia dell’Isola delle Rose
Based on an amazing true story, this recent Italian film – Rose Island in English – tells the tale of a frustrated engineer, Giorgio Rosa, who takes the initiative to build his own island off the coast of Italy. He subsequently declares it a free nation and starts attracting the attention of the world. This upbeat movie has loads of great moments and is full of joie-de-vivre!
Sotto il sole di Riccione
This feel-good film is perfect for kicking back and dreaming of good times ahead. The coming-of-age movie tells the tale of a group of late teens spending the summer together in the sunny beach resort of Riccione. New friendships are made and new romances are formed. The film is totally cheesy, and full of great summer tunes and enviable locations. For a mood boost it’s well worth a watch!
For more feel-good Italian culture, join us for our regular Italian language courses starting every six weeks both online and face-to-face at our school in Covent Garden, London.