Top Italian Films about Political and Social Issues
Anna Savino | Italianna Tours
Image | Noom Peerapong
Thinking back to my college days, one of the courses that vividly stands out to me was an elective class “Italian Film”. Although heavy and disturbing, the classic Neorealist films remarkably taught me so much about Italian history, socio-economics, politics and of course the language. Funny to think this was supposed to be my “easy “A” class!
I came to the realization that not all Italians lived “la dolce vita” but instead, struggled with many hardships of everyday life. Political chaos, poverty and corruption have been major issues that are deeply embedded in this country. Actually, Italy made a significant impact on the film industry during the Neorealist movement at the end of World War II. The essential characteristics of Neorealist films deal with the aftermath of WWII, a new democratic spirit focusing on the emotions of the local people with no necessary plot. Stylistically, they used local actors and places with no studios and a simple style of filming with little editing etc.
Here are my top picks for films about Italian politics and society:
Neorealism (post-WWII)
Rome, Open City (Roma Città Aperta) – Roberto Rossellini 1945
This is considered a Rossellini breakthrough film and the start of the Neorealist movement. It was an anti-fascist movie, following a group of Communists during the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1943. This was one of the most influential films ever made, dealing with socialist themes and standing by “the people” in times of war and poverty. It’s the The first film in of Rossellini's War Trilogy.
Bitter Rice (Riso Amaro) – Giuseppe De Santis 1949
Here’s a peek into the hard life of the women who worked in the rice paddies in Northern Italy in Vercelli. Although the genre is moving towards a Hollywood style with a melodramatic ending, it does show the socio-political themes of seasonal workers' conditions, both legal and illegal which are still relevant today.
Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette) – Vittorio De Sica 1948
This Neorealist drama follows a poor father Antonio, who is desperately looking for a job, post WWII. After sacrificing everything they had at a pawn shop, he was able to buy a bike, necessary for his new job but unfortunately, someone steals itit got stolen. The film follows the main character Antonio with his son Bruno and shows how everyday life grinds down working- class men. For more insight on this movie and its relevance to our contemporary world, read A.O. Scott’s recent article in New York Times.
La Strada- Federico Fellini 1954
Melancholic and tragic yet brilliant—this is a Fellini masterpiece. Gelsomina, a young, innocent girl is sold by her mother to a brawny and abusive street artist. The constant contrast of their personalities is compelling throughout the film. The young girl meets a tight-rope walker when they all join the circus who opens her eyes to the injustices and cruelties brought upon her by the street artist, Zampano. This movie is simple but touching and will stay with you forever.
Scene from Bicycle Thieves | Vittorio De Sica
Image | Johnny Freak
Comedy
Mediterraneo – Gabriele Salvatores 1991
This Oscar-winning comedy for “Best Foreign Language Film” shows how many Italians were not at all suitable for fighting in the war. During World War II, a group of Italian soldiers were left on a deserted Greek island for lookout duty while still allied with the Germans. The island appears deserted until the locals, seeing how foolish and unthreatening the soldiers were, begin to come out and live their normal lives. The soldiers started to blend in with the locals and many did not want to leave when given the chance to return to Italy. I think this movie is good for a laugh, but it also shows how many Italians were torn between their personal feelings and fighting for the Germans. In this case, they related more to the island people of Greece.
Life is Beautiful (La Vita È Bella) – Roberto Benigni 1997
Who has not seen this Academy Award winning dramatic comedy about Guido, a Jewish Italian, trying to hide the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps from his son? It reminds you that even in times of tragedy, the Italians always seem to have a sense of humor and contagious jubilation that makes us all fall in love with the people. It’s also worth it to watch Benigni’s acceptance speeches for both “Best Foreign Language Film” and “Best Actor.” Note: watch the film in the original Italian with English subtitles rather than dubbed in English—the former retains its poignancy while the latter comes off as quirky slapstick.
Life Is Beautiful | Roberto Benigni
Image | IMDB.com
Anti-Mafia – Many of our contemporary problems related to democracy today are due to political corruption and Mafia. Unfortunately, many of these films are based on true stories and reflect the reality of some regions in Italy today.
The Hundred Steps (I 100 Passi) – Marco Tullio Giordana 2000
A true story about the life of a political anti-mafia activist in Sicily, Peppino Impastato. This man dedicated his life to fighting against the Mafia even when he felt all alone (the movie title represents the distance from Peppino’s home to the local Mafia Boss’s house). Although the story ends tragically, it is inspiring to see Peppino’s courage to be the voice for those who were too afraid to speak up. The movie title 100 Steps, represents the distance from Peppino’s home to the local Mafia Boss’s house.
Il Divo – Paolo Sorrentino 2008
This is a deep and heavy biographical drama about an incumbent (7 terms) Prime Minister, Giulio Andreotti, who had alleged ties to the Mafia. This clearly shows a “soft populism” and rule by a dominant group of players, some of whom stayed in power for inexplicably long periods of time. It dabbles into the systematic corruption of the Italian government and formation of coalitions which become more about party strategy rather than being voted by the masses.
Gomorrah – Matteo Garrone 2008
Based on a non-fiction bestseller by Roberto Saviano, Gomorrah deals with the real life struggles with the Mafia in Naples and Caserta. Topics within the film range from drugs, illegal waste disposal, the fashion industry, and the allure of gangster crimes. It shows how incredibly infiltrated the Mafia can be in a range of different fields and businesses. Local residents were used as actors, necessitating subtitles in Italian because of the strong dialect used in this raw eye-opening film.
Il Divo | Paolo Sorrentino
Image | IMDB.com
