Italian Films That You Need to See

Italian Films That You Need to See

The Italians were among the first of the European countries on the filmmaking scene. The 50s, 60s and late 80s were thriving eras for the Italian cinema industry, but it has seen little action worth celebrating since.

Thankfully the films from these decades live on having made history with their stories and filming techniques. There are a few that every movie lover needs to see at least once, especially if said lover has a pending trip to Italy in the works.

Cinema Paradiso

Giuseppe Tornatore – 1988

Cinema Paradiso is one of the most important films to have ever emerged from Italy. It tells the highly relatable story of a passionate filmmaker who takes a journey down memory lane to what got him interested in the art in the first place.

The film begins in Rome in the 80s where the main character Salvatore is living and working successfully. He lives with his girlfriend and the two enjoy a happy life in the capital amongst all the attractions you’ll explore should you do a guided walking tour of your own through the city.

One evening he returns home to news that a man named Alfredo has passed away. He is forced to return to his home village in Sicily. Without giving too much away, Alfredo was Salvatore’s mentor and got him involved in operating the cameras at the local cinema of the village in which they lived.

It was from here that Salvator’s passion was cultivated. There are a few sub narratives that take this story on a wild ride while Salvator is away from Rome, including a gift left for Salvator from Alfredo.

La Dolce Vita

Federico Fellini – 1960

Federico Fellini is regarded as one of the most important filmmakers of all time, and defiantly one of the most significant contributors to the development of Italian cinema.

This movie is a must-watch for anyone who is planning a trip to Rome in the near future. The majority of film takes place in the capital, where a journalist named Marcello spends his days mingling amongst the city’s richest and most affluent individuals.

You’ll get a strong sense of the charm and whimsey that this city holds both day and night; even though this was filmed in the 60s, little has changed on the streets of Rome.

Marcello is faced with the suicide of his best friend and simultaneously meets an alluring actress with whom he pursues a relationship. It’s a tale of introspection and whether the protagonist craves something deeper than the life he has been living… and whether he can allow it in, at that.

La Vita è Bella

Roberto Benigni – 1997

Life Is Beautiful is one of the more recently made films in terms of Italian cinema history. Yes, it was made int he 90s, but that makes it much younger than most of the films that emerged from this land.

When it was first released, Life Is Beautiful took home three Oscar wins.

The movie takes place in Italy in the 1930s. It follows a Jewish shopkeeper named Guido who embarks on a wild romance with a woman from a nearby village. They fall madly in love and live happily ever after together with their son.

Things take a turn when the German troops come to occupy Italy and Guido is sent off to a  Jewish Concentration Camp along with his son. He is determined for them both to survive the camps, and gets creative in his ways of dealing with the horrors.

This film shook the world. It was the first time the Holocaust had been explored in Italian cinema and was both a heartbreaking yet awe inspiring display of true events.

We Have A Pope

Nanni Moretti – 2011

When you’re in Rome you’ll be able to take a guided walking tour through the Vatican City and St. Peters Cathedral. You’ll gain comprehensive undertaking of the aesthetic of the place, but no one will ever really know much about the inner workings of the establishment.

We Have A Pope is a recently made Italian film that speculates on what likely goes on behind closed doors amongst the Cardinals inside of the Vatican. The story follows a new young pope in his selection process who finds himself overwhelmed with the whole experience.

It’s a beautiful look into the rituals and politics of the establishment. An Italian film worth seeing if your visit to Rome is in any way motivated by the existence of the Vatican and this particular religious group.

L’avventura

Michelangelo Antonioni – 1960

The Adventure is a prime display of classic Italian cinema at its finest. It lives on as one of the most iconic Italian films ever made by a director who is held in high esteem across the country: Michelangelo Antonioni.

The movie follows the story of Anna and Claudia; two best friends living in a village just outside of Rome who are about to embark on a yachting trip across the Mediterranean. They are to be accompanied by Anna’s boyfriend, Sandro.

The journey puts them on the water, stopping off at different islands en route. One evening while docked at Lisca Bianca, Anna goes missing without a trace. There is a brief search for her but it is assumed she is simply exploring and will return at her own pace. She doesn’t.

The rest of the story follows the hunt for Anna and the toll that it takes on the people left behind, predominantly her best friend and boyfriend who might need to find comfort in the arms of one another while Anna’s whereabouts reman unknown.