Il Sorpasso – The Easy Life (Dino Risi – 1962)

Labeled as the first Italian road trip movie and hallmark of the Italian comedy (Commedia all’italiana) genre, director Dino Risi provides an alarming prophecy for the future of Italy during the prosperous early 60’s of what is typically referred to as the Italian Economic Miracle (Boom Economico). This is Italy after WWII that experienced a… Continue reading Il Sorpasso – The Easy Life (Dino Risi – 1962)

La commare secca – The Grim Reaper (Bernardo Bertolucci -1962)

Master Conflict: a prostitute was killed in Paolino park in Rome Sub-Plots: Police investigation showcases stories of five witnesses that depict how their day started and what they saw when it finishes in Paolino park Themed Character: Roman rain that drives characters to seek shelter, triggering transitions to portrayal of the prostitute at different stages… Continue reading La commare secca – The Grim Reaper (Bernardo Bertolucci -1962)

8½ (Federico Fellini – 1963)

This Oscar-winning masterpiece was originally titled “La Bella Confusione” (The Nice Confusion) and was made in six months against the backdrop of the early 60’s Economic Miracle (Boom Economico) in which Italy experienced substantial economic growth. This period of prosperity on one hand also added confusion and identity crisis as Italian society transformed from agricultural… Continue reading 8½ (Federico Fellini – 1963)

Kaos (Paolo and Vittorio Taviani -1984)

With a mysteriously enchanting soundtrack by Nicola Piovani and a black raven donned with a chiming bell flying over the timeless medieval villages perched defiantly on the mountains of Girgenti on the southern coast of Sicily – the brothers Taviani weave together five tales based on novels by 1934 Nobel prize in Literature laureate, Luigi… Continue reading Kaos (Paolo and Vittorio Taviani -1984)

Rocco e i suoi fratelli – Rocco and his Brothers (Luchino Visconti – 1960)

It’s a story told many times of a family that leaves home to find a better life elsewhere.  In this masterpiece Visconti overlays this basic premise in Italy of the Economic Boom of early 60’s, the cultural dissonant emerging from a Southern family from Lucania trying to assimilate in big city Milan, and above all… Continue reading Rocco e i suoi fratelli – Rocco and his Brothers (Luchino Visconti – 1960)