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Call Me by Your Name (Italy) – Romance from the Master of Sensuality

Call Me by Your Name Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

If you’ve ever dreamed of falling in love under the Italian sun, this film may just take you to dreamland. Call Me by Your Name has all the ingredients for a perfect romantic film. It’s got sun, fresh food, beautiful people, lakes and rivers, and freedom. All you’ll need is a glass of wine.

Why Watch Call Me by Your Name?

If you like sensual romance (also see Guadagnino’s I Am Love)
To escape to the beautiful Italian summer
It’s been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars
If you like coming-of-age stories

The Breakdown

Call Me by Your Name starts with 17 year old Elio. He’s chilling in his parents house in Northern Italy with his girlfriend Marzia for his summer holidays. A few seconds later, Oliver arrives, a grad student from Elio’s dad’s university class in America. He’s come to Europe for the summer to help Elio’s dad with his research and lap up the Italian sun.

The Italy we see in Call Me by Your Name is the Italy we dream of. The sun is forever shining and the warm colours almost give off the heat. As this is set in the 1980s, before Internet, there are no phones or computers as we know today, and these guys don’t watch TV. Instead, they swim, play volleyball, lounge in the sun, eat Al-fresco, and read. It’s pretty much the ideal summer holiday – everyone is happy and relaxed. Plus, the beautiful environment heightens the beauty of everyone within it.

It’s also no surprise that Elio and Oliver are attracted to each other. Everything you see in their environment symbolizes the ripeness of their relationship. There are trees laden with ripe fruit, flies buzzing on and off the screen (you can always hear them), and fresh water. In addition, there’s the constant sun. The environment is a metaphor for their growing love for each other, identifying it before they do.

Whilst the sensual environment reveals their growing love to the audience, Elio and Oliver are still unaware of each other’s feelings. Instead, they performing an intellectual mating ritual in which they both try to show-off their proficiency in high art to the other. Firstly, Oliver manages to prove his intelligence by correcting Elio’s dad on the origins of the word ‘apricot.’ Secondly Elio gets his chance to show-off when he plays the guitar and piano. The ‘mating ritual’ finally ends when Oliver admits defeat and asks Elio if there is anything he doesn’t know which gives Elio the confidence to subtly declare his love.

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Conclusion

If you’ve seen any of Guadagnino’s other films, you’ll know that he’s a master of sensuality. In Call Me by Your Name he doesn’t disappoint. It’s the perfect coming-of-age story of Elio’s first love. You’ll almost forget it’s a gay romance (if Oliver doesn’t keep repeating ‘let’s be good’) as this film is first and foremost a beautiful romance.

Dear Diary (Italy)

Dear Diary Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

You may have seen Rome and Italy in a number of films, but you have never seen it like it is in Dear Diary. Nanni Moretti will guide you around the country like the best tour guides – one that doesn’t care what people think of him. He parodies the Italians whilst making fun of himself for our entertainment. It’s a bit Monty Python esque and a bit Quixotic! Go watch this man’s stream of consciousness!

Why Watch Dear Diary?

For a visual stream of consciousness portrayal of Rome and Italy
It’s also a great comedy with plenty of parody
There’s a great soundtrack featuring Juan Luis Guerra and Cheb Khaled!
To see director Nanni Moretti dancing in a cafe

The Breakdown

Chapter 1. On My Vespa

‘Dear diary, there’s one thing I like the most.’ And cut to Nanni Moretti riding down the back streets of Rome on his Vespa. There’s music, there’s no cars, and the streets are beautifully lined with trees!

You know those moments when you are walking on your own and your mind starts to wander? Then a few minutes later you realise that you’ve walked a mile without paying attention to what you’ve walked past. Well, the only way I can describe this film is by comparing it to one of those moments. Nanni Moretti guides us around Rome, but as he keeps getting distracted as he is doing so and takes us on his tangents.

What’s even more amazing is that he even interrupts the improvised tour he takes us on. For example, in one scene he turns up at a group dancing merengue in a square in Rome. He walks up to the band singing and starts singing along with the lead singer. He’s kind of like a Don Quixote making his way around Rome. One thing is for sure, you’ll never get a tour of Rome like this!

Conclusion

Just like The Great Beauty this great Italian film just seems to flow naturally. But unlike The Great Beauty this film is funny as well! Where else are you going to see a Director riding around Rome on a Vespa while dancing to Cheb Khaled’s ‘Didi’. Plus, I haven’t even talked about the hilarious second chapter or the darkly funny third chapter. This is one to watch!

Umberto D (Italy) – An Introduction to Italian Neorealist Film

Umberto D Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Here’s your chance to introduce yourself to Italian neorealist film. Umberto D. is one of the standout films of the neorealist genre. You’ll meet the elderly Umberto, a man who has been forced into poverty by his government and landlady. It’s a must watch for all film fans.

You can watch the film here on YouTube if your Italian is up to scratch. Otherwise you can rent it here for the price of a coffee.

Why Watch Umberto D?

For the perfect introduction to Italian Neorealism
To see how bad poverty was in post-war Italy
It’s emotional – it’ll get you angry, sentimental, hopeless, and hopeful
It’s actually De Sica’s favourite film (above Bicycle Thieves)

The Breakdown

Umberto D starts with a protest in one of Rome’s city squares. An organized group of elderly men are all demanding a raise in their pensions. One of these men is Umberto D. Ferrari, a retired government worker.

Unfortunately for Umberto, life isn’t going too well. Even though he worked all of his life for the government, he can’t afford to live on the pension they’ve given him. As a result, his unsympathetic landlady is kicking him out.

Despite this, Umberto is always well-dressed in a suit, tie, and hat. He manages to keep his smart dress throughout the film. It’s almost a symbol of his dignity. The only time he thinks about begging is when he removes his hat and gives it to his pet dog Flike to beg on behalf of him. It’s the only short moment in which he relinquishes his dignity and asks for help.

Umberto is not the only one that needs help. You’ll notice some beggars asking for money. But there’s also the landlady’s maid, one of the only friends of Umberto. There’s one iconic scene which focuses on her, pretty much the only scene that isn’t focused on Umberto. In the scene she walks from one end of the landlady’s kitchen to the window to watch a cat wandering over the neighbours roofs. Whilst it may not sound that significant, the scene emphasises the maid’s lack of freedom. Whilst the cat can freely roam the roofs of Rome, she is confined to the landlady’s kitchen. She cannot afford to live by herself or go to school and ultimately she will share the same fate as Umberto later in life. It shows that, unless there’s change, poverty will continue to exist.

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Conclusion

De Sica claimed that Umberto D. was his favourite film that he made. In addition, it’s probably one of the best examples of Italian Neo-realism. It’s full of emotion, and quickly gets you to sympathise with Umberto. It’s a must watch if you’re into foreign film.

If you want to get to know more classic Italian films, I’d recommend checking out Divorce: Italian Style for a comedy that inspired Martin Scorsese, and La Dolce Vita from maestro Federico Fellini. For more Neorealist film check out the following:

La Terra Trema (Visconti)
Germany Year Zero (Rossellini)
Bicycle Thieves (De Sica)

The 10th Victim (Italy)

The 10th Victim Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Yes! There is a film which is a combination of Austin Powers and The Hunger Games. It’s called The 10th Victim and it was made in Italy in the 1960s. You may be thinking: “how does it work?” My answer is: don’t worry about it, the dystopian world that director Elio Petri creates is worth your time. It’s colours, setting, and subtle critiques of modern society make this film one of the most unique films and one that you should watch.

Why Watch The 10th Victim?

To watch the Italian 60s equivalent to the Hunger Games
This dystopia is complete with brothels, minimalist furniture and fashion, artificial insemination centres, and no old people!
It features Marcello Mastroianni from La Dolce Vita and Ursula Andress (the first Bond girl)
To find out more about ‘The Big Hunt’ – “Hitler would have become a member”

The Breakdown

The 10th Victim starts with a gun shootout between a man and a woman in an abandoned warehouse. As they are firing at each other, a narrator pauses the action to explain what is going on. The man and woman are members of ‘The Big Hunt’, a game where one plays 5 times as a hunter and 5 times as a victim. As a hunter, you are given a target to kill. However, as a victim, you must try and find out who your hunter is and kill them before they kill you. The one who comes out alive after 10 rounds is honoured and given $1million. Would you become a member?

The ‘Big Hunt theory’ is advertised throughout the film with it’s many slogans. Here’s some of the best:

“If you are suicidal, the big hunt has a special place for you”
“An Enemy a day keeps the doctor away”
“Hitler would have become a member”

The whole event was thought up as an outlet for violence (an idea also shown in The Most Dangerous Game based on the Spartan Crypteia event).

In The 10th Victim the violence is limited to those who choose to take part in the big hunt. Taking part is a quick way to find fame as the best killers are constantly stalked by paparazzi and dominate the news. These killers are the equivalent of today’s celebrity. They relish the spotlight, support the biggest brands, and always have to look good for the camera. This is one of the strangest, memorable critiques of capitalism on film.

Conclusion

Elio Petri’s The 10th Victim is a pop-culture blast. The world he creates is unlike anything you’ve seen, with bright colours, minimalistic architecture, and one-tone clothing. The wacky soundtrack confirms that Elio Petri’s tongue was firmly in his cheek when he was making this film. The cheesiness and laughs are all part of the satire that makes fun of consumerism, corporations, and celebrity culture. What a strange but awesome film!