10 famous-but-not-too-much movies from different eras that have effectively whipped up the distortions of Italian society in ironic, bitter, or surreal ways
Una vita difficile (A difficult life)
Dino Risi, 1961
Silvio refuses to fight for the fascists, joining the resistance and the beautiful Elena instead. After the war, he becomes a penniless but honest journalist, eventually landing in prison.
Le mani sulla città (Hands over the city)
Francesco Rosi, 1963
Prior to the city council election, the collapse of a building forces a ruthless contractor and his political backers to deal with the ensuing scandal.
La vita agra
Carlo Lizzani, 1964
The story of Luciano, a disillusioned intellectual who, after losing his job, plots to bomb his former workplace but finds himself entangled in life’s absurdities and struggles.
Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (Investigation of a citizen above suspicion)
Elio Petri, 1970
A high-ranking police officer murders his mistress and manipulates the investigation, exposing the corruption and abuse of power within the political and judicial systems.
In nome del popolo italiano (In the name of the Italian People)
Dino Risi, 1971
A corrupt industrialist and a principled judge clash over the death of a young woman, revealing deep-seated issues of justice, morality, and the socio-political tensions within Italian society.
Una giornata particolare (A special day)
Ettore Scola, 1977
On the day of Hitler’s visit to Rome, a housewife and her neighbor form an unexpected bond, confronting personal struggles and societal norms amidst the backdrop of fascist Italy.
Porte aperte (Open doors)
Gianni Amelio, 1990
In 1930s Sicily, a judge of unwavering principles grapples with a case demanding capital punishment, challenging societal norms and his own moral convictions.
Il portaborse (The Yes Man)
Daniele Luchetti, 1991
In Italy on the brink of the bribery scandal outbreak, young minister Botero, notorious for corruption, hires Professor Luciano Sandrulli, a penniless idealist, as his ghostwriter.
Il capitale umano (Human capital)
Paolo Virzì, 2013
In a wealthy city in northern Italy, a man on a bicycle is run over by an off-roader. This event will trigger a series of consequences for several families from different backgrounds.
Suburra
Stefano Sollima, 2015
A corrupt politician, a ruthless gangster, and a conflicted mob fixer vie for power and survival in Rome’s criminal underworld, leading to a violent showdown.
