When I lived in the US, come Chrismas time there were always certain movies -- the classic cartoons, and some other classics as well. Italy doesn't really have a holiday film tradition as such, but this doesn't mean that the depths of winter aren't a great time to curl up and take in a film. A selection of things I have liked, in no particular order:
Any of Rizzoli's Don Camillo films
Who hasn't heard of Guerreschi's Don Camillo, or laughed at his epic battles with Peppone, the communist mayor of the town "by the Great River, somewhere in the Bassa Padana"? In 1951 Rizzoli selected Fernandel to play Don Camillo and Gino Cervi to play Peppone, with Guerreschi providing Christ's voice. A wonderful film, followed by several others just as delightful. Down by Law, with Roberto Benigni
In the US Roberto Benigni is likely best known for Life is Beautiful, but he has been acting for a long time and most of his films are winners. This is one of the most off-the-wall, about an Italian who gets stranded in the US and ends up in Jail. Fun and thought provoking.Johnny Stecchino, with Roberto Benigni
Roberto plays two characters: Dante, a simple-minded schoolbus driver who's just slightly better off than the special needs kids he drives about, and Johnny, a dastardly Don who's living in hiding because the rival whose wife he killed wants revenge. Johnny's wife decides to pass Dante off as Johnny, get him killed, and thus get Johnny off the hook. But then... A great ending. Il Piccolo Diavolo (Benigni & Mathau)
Wasn't able to find this in an American catalog; the title translates as The Little Devil. Briefly, Walter Mathau is a drunken priest whose primary interests are his lover and Vatican politics; he exorcises a fat Neapolitan woman who's possessed by a frightened, inept, and innocuous little devil who calls himself Giuditta (Roberto). The priest has no choice but to take Giuditta under his wing...Bread Love and Dreams (Pane Amore e Gelosia)
Vittorio De Sica is the Maresciallo (the police chief), and a very young Gina Lolobrigida is the farm girl who falls in love with the Maresciallo's assistant. Only he's a northerner, and a little slow on the uptake, so all sorts of confusion ensues. Masterful.The Tree of the Wooden Clogs (L'Albero degli Zoccoli)
A fascinating film about life in a farming community in the Bassa Padana a little more than a century ago, with the few joys and many sorrows being a peasant at the time entailed. It's extraordinarily realistic, and sobering too; if you've ever wondered why the peasants all fled Europe you will know by the end of this film. Well worth seeing.Pane e Tulipani (Bread and Tulips)
Again, I couldn't find a catalog listing for this one. It's the story of a housewife who gets left behind at a rest stop while on the way home from a bus tour, and hitchhikes past home and on to Venice when nobody comes to pick her up. And there, well... Watch the movie! It's delightful.Amarcord
Fellini's masterpiece (at least in my opinion), the bittersweet recollections of his childhood, growing up in an antifascist household in the 30s, La Gradisca, his classmates, his teachers, an ox, and much more.I Due Nemici, with Alberto Sordi and David Niven
The English title would be The Two Enemies; the film is set in North Africa in 1942, and details the personal struggle between an English officer and his Italian counterpart, as they capture each other, struggle with the natives, and simply try to survive. Full of unexpected twists and turns.I Due Marescialli
The war is raging, and Vittorio De Sica, the local Maresciallo dei Carabinieri (Vittorio De Sica, the Police chief) is forced into hiding; a thief (Totò) ends up taking his place and does an astonishingly good job. The real Maresciallo is overjoyed to see how completely the uniform can change the man, until... Two great actors in top form.
