Tag: Italy
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LE SOLDATESSE aka THE CAMP FOLLOWERS
“The Camp Followers” is a poignant war film released in 1965 and directed by Valerio Zurlini, adapted from Ugo Pirro’s compelling novel. Set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II in 1942, the narrative follows a young lieutenant, portrayed by Tomas Milian, in the Italian Army. Tasked with a morally complex mission, he must…
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SMOG
“Smog” (1962) is an Italian drama directed by Franco Rossi that explores through a satirical lens the alienation and cultural contrasts experienced by Europeans—particularly Italians—when confronted with the modern, industrialized world of the United States. Set in Los Angeles, the film explores themes of materialism, displacement, and the existential loneliness of urban life through the…
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AMARCORD
Amarcord is a 1973 film directed by Federico Fellini, it stars Bruno Zanin, Pupella Maggio, Armando Brancia, Magali Noël, and Ciccio Ingrassia. “Amarcord” (which means “I Remember” in the dialect of Rimini, Fellini’s hometown) is a semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age film that nostalgically and surrealistically portrays life in a small Italian coastal town during the 1930s under…
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LA MATRIARCA aka THE LIBERTINE
‘La Matriarca’ aka ‘The Libertine’, directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile, is a 1968 Italian comedy-drama starring Catherine Spaak, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Gigi Proietti, and Luigi Pistilli. This film explores themes of liberation, sexuality, and self-discovery through a satirical lens. It portrays a woman’s societal and personal transformation determined to challenge the limitations imposed on her by…
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L’AVVENTURA aka THE ADVENTURE
L’Avventura, released in 1960, is a film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. It explores themes of alienation, ennui, and existential searching. The film stars Monica Vitti, Gabriele Ferzetti, and Lea Massari and tells a haunting story of lost love and disconnection. The story begins when Anna (Lea Massari) joins her boyfriend, Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti), and her…
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SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (NSFW)
‘Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom,’ is a 1975 controversial and highly provocative film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Based loosely on the infamous novel “The 120 Days of Sodom” by the Marquis de Sade, the film is a brutal allegory about power, sadism, and the dehumanizing effects of totalitarianism. Set in Fascist Italy…
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THE NIGHT PORTER
“The Night Porter” (1974) is a controversial psychological drama directed by Liliana Cavani. Starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling, the film is set in post-World War II Vienna and explores the complex and disturbing relationship between a former Nazi officer and a Holocaust survivor. The film delves into themes of trauma, guilt, power dynamics, and…
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LAST TANGO IN PARIS
“Last Tango in Paris” (1972) is a controversial erotic drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and starring Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, and Jean-Pierre Léaud. Known for its explicit sexual content and raw emotional intensity, It explores themes of grief, anonymity, sexual liberation, and the complexities of human relationships. The story takes place in Paris and…
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1900 (NOVECENTO)
“1900” (original title: Novecento, 1976) is an epic historical drama directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The film spans several decades in 20th-century Italy, from the early 1900s to the rise of fascism (an occurring theme in Bertolucci’s earlier films), and it explores the lives of two men from different social classes whose fates are intertwined with…
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LE MEPRIS aka CONTEMPT
“Contempt” (Le Mépris) is a complex and visually stunning film directed by Jean-Luc Godard in 1963. It explores themes of love, betrayal, and the nature of filmmaking. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Italy, the film delves into the disintegration of a marriage amid the pressures of the film industry. The story begins with Paul…
The Other Cinema 