Italian Films I’m Watching: Round 2
Here are some recommendations of Italian films I’m watching this week!
Cinema Paradiso (1990) dir. Giuseppe Tornatore
Plot: With its 3-hour runtime, Cinema Paradiso follows a young Salvatore’s journey to discovering film and all of its joyous gifts when he decides to start working at the local cinema alongside his pal Alfredo. It is not until Salvatore becomes a successful filmmaker himself that he comes to realize what all he’s left behind 30 years later in the town he used to call home.
Most noteworthy: The ending of the movie seriously encapsulates why we go to the movie theater in the modern day. It will LITERALLY bring you to tears.
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) dir. Dario Argento
Plot: This Italian giallo-genre film is one of director Dario Argento’s most iconic masterpieces, following the story of a town in which there have been a string of mysterious murders occurring but no attached suspect. It is up to a curious Sam Dalmas and the local inspector Morosini to figure out who is responsible for the peril of local young women. Unbeknownst to the sleuths, the answer to their who-dun-it is not one they saw coming.
Most noteworthy: The use of vibrant colors within scenes. Also, the score overall is excellent, especially when it is used to foreshadow an event.
Bicycle Theives (Ladri di Biciclette) (1948) dir. Vittorio De Sica
Plot: The day has come, and Antonio Ricci has struck gold in the job market: a duty to hang up posters in Rome while traveling on a bicycle. With struggle, Ricci gets the bicycle he needs for work, but to his dismay, it gets stolen on the first day of the job. Antonio and his son Bruno scour the town in search of the prized possession. The search reveals much about the father and son duo, shaping their lives with each step.
Most noteworthy: The use of lighting in a complete black and white film to portray the protagonist’s various situations and emotions.
