And Now For Some Italian Films

Perugia. Wouldn’t you love to meet us there?

After our workshop week in France in September (a space is still open for that), we’re heading to Italy. And since we treated you to a list of French films, we thought, why not a share a few Italian movies to get you in the mood? (We have a last-minute opening for that workshop, too). Those we note here are ones we find charming, funny or inspiring – or all the above. But please feel free to engage in your own search and make your own recommendations.

In Bread and Tulips, a middle-class middle-aged housewife ends up, via a series of accidents, in Venice among a cast of eccentrics. Needless to say, romance ensues. Also laughter.

Big Deal on Madonna Street,  is the original hapless-crooks tale. The can’t-lose heist plan runs into unforeseen obstacles and the way it unfolds influences heist films forever. Great jazzy score too!

Divorce Italian Style,  murderous comedy with Marcello Mastroianni as the would-be killer.

Nights of Cabiria, Fellini made this film relatively early in his career and it’s a masterpiece of heartbreak and humor.

The Best of Youth, is something completely different – a made-for-Italian-tv family saga covering four decades. It’s six hours altogether but utterly riveting. And possibly a more realistic depiction of Italian life than the comedies we love.

That’s it for now. Do let us know if you have any other favorites—or if you want to share a week of writing with us in Italy!