Before going to Italy, I recommend watching at least a few films made in this wonderful country - this will help you better understand your mentality, history and culture.
In the article you will find a list of my favorite films and series that I enjoy reviewing periodically. Agree that it’s great to walk, for example, in the sights of Rome or Venice and find out the places in which the most famous Hollywood actors starred.
In the comments to the article, please share your favorite films shot in Italy.
Good old Classics
I advise you to start acquaintance with Italy with the good old black and white classics - these films have long been recognized masterpieces of world cinema:
Roman holiday
The inimitable Audrey Hepburn, winner of the Oscar, in her star role in the Roman holidays plays the princess who came to Rome. She was so bored with life by royal rules that she decides to run for a walk at night. Life and love in Rome is a Roman vacation. I recommend to all romantic girls and their soul mates.
Important scenes:
- Audrey eats gelato on the Spanish Steps - one of the most recognizable postcards in the world;
- Empty square of St. Peter in the Vatican. Yes, 60 years ago, it was possible to drive directly to the steps of the cathedral by car. There was also a bus stop on the square;
- Dancing and fighting in front of the castle of St. Angel.
Sweet life
Satirical tragicomedy Sweet Life (La Dolce Vita) is a black and white masterpiece by director Federico Fellini with handsome Marcello Mastroiani and Anita Ekberg in the lead roles.
The character name of the film photographer Paparazzo has become a household name. You will also see the very young 22-year-old Adriano Celentano. The film won an Oscar for best costume design and the Cannes Festival Grand Prix.
The most famous scene:
Also noteworthy are footage of the flight over the Vatican at the very beginning of the film. An interesting fact is that the scenes on Via Vittorio Veneto were shot not in Rome, but at the Cinecittà studio, as some elements of the city interfered with Fellini.
Yesterday Today Tomorrow
Yesterday, Today Tomorrow, with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni - this is a classic of Italian cinema. The film consists of three parts, and in the last Sophia Loren plays an elite Roman prostitute living in an apartment overlooking Piazza Navona.
- I advise you to read: the most famous films with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni
Modern
Over the past decades, dozens of incredibly beautiful films have been shot in Italy.
Great Beauty
The Great Beauty of the genius Paolo Sorrentino is my favorite film about Rome. I watched it 10 times and is ready to review. For everyone who wants to fall in love with Rome or at least a little try to understand this city. The film may seem complicated to the mass audience, there is no happy ending, shootings, quickly changing scenes. At the same time, the film will suit a thoughtful viewer. Even if you don’t come in the first time, by the way, like me, I advise you to give him a second chance in a month or two. The film is recommended for viewers over 18 years old, and children probably will not understand it.
Young dad
The series Young Papa with Jude Law in the title role consists of 10 episodes, but they promise to shoot the second season. The protagonist is American 47-year-old Cardinal Lenny Belardo, who became one of the youngest in history by Pope Pius XIII. Intrigues of experienced cardinals from the warring clans, who chose him as a compromise figure, allowed him to take this post. And then he begins to give heat!
If you liked Great Beauty and Young Pope Paolo Sorrentino, then you should definitely watch his film Youth - it’s not about Italy, but just about life, but it’s still beautiful. Filming took place in neighboring Switzerland.
Let's move on to simpler and more fun films:
Roman Adventures
Roman Adventures is a very beautiful Woody Allen film with Penelope Cruz and Alec Baldwin. Many recognizable sights - Navona, Spanish Steps, Venice Square. Some of the scenes were shot in my favorite area of Trastevere. In the trailer above 32 seconds, Alec Baldwin, looking back at the Porta Settimiana in Trastevere, recalls that he lived on one of these streets when he was a student. We will definitely show tourists these atmospheric alleys during our author's excursion Immersion in Trastevere.
To hell on the horns
If you want to understand how the bureaucratic system in Italy works, then the comedy Go to Hell on the Horn is a must-see. It is amazing how Italians can laugh at themselves, recognize the whole insanity of the state system, but at the same time, in real life in Italy we have it all. Any adequate Italian will confirm you.
Spectrum
The spectrum, the action movie about James Bond was shot in Rome.
Here is my detailed storyboard of the movie scenes. If you don’t like action movies, You can watch a part about Rome from 28 to 50 minutes for educational purposes, at least for the sake of the most beautiful movie chase. Aston Martin Race in Rome along the Tiber, Vatican, Aqua Paola fountain - a delight!
Tourist
Most of the film Tourist with Joni Dep and Angelina Jolie starred in Venice. I am sure that after watching you will definitely want to visit or return to this fabulous city.
Eat Pray Love
The main character of the film “Eat, Pray, Love” (Julia Roberts) wants to experience something new, so she takes a year off and goes on a trip to Italy, India and Bali. Pray and love, you guessed it, she will be in India and Bali, but there is, of course, in Rome! In the film there are many scenes with recognizable places - the Vatican, the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, where next to it in the Ristorante Santa Lucia restaurant (address Largo Febo, 12, 00186), she will dine with Italian pasta.
Welcome south
Welcome to the South - about the features of the south of Italy. The film is very funny and easy to understand, morally prepare you for a trip to Naples, Rome and even to Sicily.
Welcome north
Welcome to the North - about business and always busy Italians in Milan and especially the north of Italy.
At the end of 2018, the third part of the comedy was released - Welcome to South 2, or Neighbors Are Not Allowed, but it didn’t really go to me.
Angels and Demons
But please, do not take the plot of the film Angels and Demons seriously - it's just a movie. Enjoy the beautiful views of Rome and the sights. Now they would say that the film has a lot of hype - the Vatican, the Illuminati, secret society, conspiracies, riddles, the brutal Catholic Church. Oh yes of course! I still meet tourists who sincerely believe that the story shown in the film is true. It is important that there were no shootings on the territory of the Vatican - these are all studio decorations and computer graphics. In Rome, in fact, they filmed most of the film.
The incredible adventures of Italians in Russia
A couple of years ago, when I flew from Italy to Aeroflot to visit Russia, I turned on a film about the incredible adventures of Italians on the plane in my mood. I watched it about 20 years ago and was simply amazed - look at the first three minutes.
An ambulance rides on a bridge on the island of Tiberina, there really is a hospital there. Then the castle of the Holy Angel, the road to the Vatican, a circle on St. Peter's Square - yes, in 1974 it was still open for motorists. Further, the Piazza del Popolo, a flasher, Venice Square is combined with a re-framing with the modern district of the EUR. And the coolest thing is the road along the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Temple of Saturn at the Roman Forum!
An ambulance passes by the temple, which is more than 2500 years old! Now there is an archaeological zone. Further, the main characters give a circle near the Coliseum - pay attention to what Arch of Constantine looked like. Now there is a pedestrian zone and thousands of tourists daily.
And, finally, under the siren howl, the guys drive into Navona Square in order to bring the children to school! Now, knowing Rome well, comparing these frames with reality is very interesting.
Interesting YouTube videos
In this section, I’m introducing you a list of educational videos from YouTube:
History of Ancient Rome in 20 minutes
In the video, the history of Ancient Rome in 20 minutes literally goes on the shelves: how Rome appeared, and how the Roman Empire influenced all of humanity.
I recommend the Eternal City before the trip, and sometimes I hear stories from colleagues who think that the Colosseum was built "about 100 years ago":
I am sure my list of films about Rome and Italy inspired you to travel to the land of sun and wine. Share your impressions and favorite films about this beautiful country in the comments.
