Italian Cinema

One of the ways we are trying to get more practice with the Italian language is renting and watching Italian movies. We have seen three in the last few weeks, and not only did we have fun picking out some words that we knew, but we thoroughly enjoyed the movies. Uh, we also learned that we won’t be speaking and understanding any Italian locals for quite some time. *Sigh*

So, I would like to share those movies with you.

Add them to your Netflix queue or run out to your local video store to rent them. Or, if you want to add them to your DVD collection, click on the links below to purchase them through Amazon.

I loved all three movies. Each has it’s own unique message of love, of inspiration, of destiny. Each one can make you cry…but for very different reasons. I had seen Life is Beautiful before, but I can watch that movie over and over and fall in love with it again and again each time I see it. That one is certainly my favorite of all three. That Roberto Benigni is some genius! It is no wonder he and the film won the Academy Award some ten years ago.

Have you seen any of these movies? What did you think? Do you like any of them so much, that you had to own it? Do you have any other Italian movies that you’d recommend to me?

bleeding espresso
March 30th, 2008
La Vita è Bella and Il Postino were the first two Italian movies I saw too I recommend anything with Benigni (Pinocchio too!) and also for comedy, anything with Aldo, Giovanni, and Giacomo. They are *hilarious*!
And then there are lots of classics like La Dolce Vita, etc., but I haven’t really gotten into those unfortunately.

Erin
March 30th, 2008
I’ve seen all 3 and love them all. Cinema Paradiso and Il Postino will be hard to understand b/c of the dialect, but Life is Beautiful is a great one to practice with. Another Benigni film that is wonderful is La Tigre e la Neve.
I’m beginning to really enjoy the more popular “teen” movies here b/c they are fun to see the everyday culture: Ho Voglia di Te, Notte Prima degli Esami, Tre Metri Sopra il Cielo…

My Melange
March 30th, 2008
Michelle~ I am with you on the classics…haven’t gotten to them either. The sound quality isn’t always as good, which makes it harder to hear and understand! Grazie…for the suggestions
Erin~ I agree. Life is Beautiful was the easiest to understand. Ohh…such great suggestions…I’ll have to look for those teen moves….I hope Netflix has some of them!! I knew I could count on you Italian expats to help me out on this!! Tanti Baci

Linda
March 31st, 2008
I still cry when I watch Cinema Paradiso, especially the scene when he visits his old bedroom. Don’t worry about not understanding Il Postino. I’ve been living in Italy for 12 years and I still can’t understand Troisi. But there’s an excellent Troisi/Benigni classic called “Non Ci Resta Che Piangere”. It’s set in 1492 and is HILARIOUS!
A couple of cute films that aren’t too hard to understand are “Pani e Tulipani” by Silvio Soldini and “Il Cuore Altrove” by Pupi Avati. I also enjoy Fellini, Nanni Moretti and Mario Monicelli films. I could go on and on…
Btw, I just commented on your “French Life” party. Oops! I guess I didn’t check the date. C’est pas grave!

My Melange
March 31st, 2008
Linda~ Thanks so much for the movie suggestions!!! I will look for them…especially since they aren’t too hard to understand

stephanie
March 31st, 2008
I LOVE ALL these movies!!! I always used to love watching anything with Giovanni Gionini (sp??) oh…those eyes!!

Rose
March 31st, 2008
Hi Robin,
Two movies I loved were Bread and Tulips and Malena.
Especially Malena!
Rose

My Melange
March 31st, 2008
Steph~ I know .. hard not to love those 3 right!!! Hmm, I’ll have to check out this Giovanni fella
Rose~ Saw Bread and Tulips…liked it!!! And guess what movie is next up on my Netflix queue…yeah… Melana!! Hope I love it as much as you did

Joe
April 1st, 2008
Hi Robin, I agree with Rose.. Melena was really good. It could have a little to do with Monica Belluci:) I also enjoyed Ciao Professore!

Chouzy
April 2nd, 2008
“Cinema Paradiso” was such a beautiful story that brought tears to my eyes because of the nostalgia that it invoked in my husband as he watched it. Years ago his father owned 2 local cinemas, which were very prosperous at the time. A few decades later those old-fashioned movie theaters, which had once been the center of local daily entertainment for so long, had to close down, and it was the end of an era.

My Melange
April 2nd, 2008
Joe~ Oh Good. It is next to arrive of my list!! And I’ll have to add Ciao Prfessore as well. Grazie
Chouzy~ Oh how wonderful. I am so sure that movie had quite a special meaning to your hubby!!! Must have been a fun childhood….

somepinkflowers
April 3rd, 2008
good selection, missy!
all great…
but any movie made in italy
makes you want to go there, doesn’t it?

foodie froggy
April 3rd, 2008
Hello ! Yes, I am still alive ! I loved Cinema Paradiso !

My Melange
April 3rd, 2008
spf~ YES, YES and YES!!! Any movie of Italy makes me want to go to Italy. Come to think of it…any movie in Greece, Africa etc etc…sill makes me want to go to Italy
anne~ Oh THANK GOODNESS!!! I thought perhaps baking had killed you for sure Glad you loved the movie too!!

Cherrye
April 4th, 2008
I have only seen La Vite e’ Bella, but I’ve heard of Il Postino. I really want to see it. I think any Benigni movie will be good for you to see. Piccolo Diavolo, Johnny Stecchini…
Also, an OLD Italian movie that I love is “Misery and Nobility.” It’s a hoot!