comes the Christmas, the holidays and even the holidays arrive relaxing evenings in front of the television to see the usual themed film. May it be Mom I missed the plane or one of the numerous cinepanettoni by Boldi and De Sica, however, you might get the impression that you have already seen them all by now.
5 Italian films to see at Christmas
Here is a quick review of Italian Christmas films a little more unusual or less known, so as to be sure to explore new cinematic horizons during the holidays at the end of 2021.
- It's never too late
- Winter holidays
- Regalo di Natale
- Opopomoz
- Any goddamn Christmas
It's never too late
A real treat for fans, this 1953 film directed by Filippo Walter Ratti, multifaceted as well as little known genre director active from the postwar period to the seventies. The plot is resumed from the famous Christmas song by Charles Dickens, adapted by Ratti together with his debutante Pietro Regnoli, who will later become one of the most prolific screenwriters in Italian genre cinema.
The performers are two well-known actors of the period, Paolo Stoppa and Marcello Mastroianni, and the story presents some variations from the original, but it is the only case of an Italian adaptation of Dickens' work. It only lasts 86 minutes, and it is also in circulation under the name of A wonderful night.
Winter holidays
If you have now seen all the cinepanettoni by Boldi and De Sica directed by the Vanzina brothers, then where to get your hands on this film: directed in 1959 by Camillo Mastrocinque, it is a sentimental comedy that revolves around the Christmas holidays spent by the accountants Alberto Moretti (the legendary Alberto Sordi) in Cortina d'Ampezzo together with his young daughter Titti, who must participate in a competition for television.
Winter holidays it was great inspiration to Vanzina for the first of the cinepanettoni, Christmas holidays from 1983, set in Cortina and with Christian De Sica (while his father, Vittorio, played in this film). However, this is not the film that launched the holiday trend, given that Racconti d'estate was released a year earlier, directed by Gianni Franciolini but always starring Sordi.
Regalo di Natale
We completely change genre, to move on to one of the Italian films to see at Christmas that critics liked the most. He directs Pupi Avati, who in 1986 had by now detached himself from his beginnings in horror, and plays Carlo Delle Piane, who will win a Coppa Volpi in Venice for the best male interpretation. The film, however, is also notable for the first dramatic role of Diego Abatantuono.
The film takes place entirely at a poker table on Christmas Eve and confronts four old friends and a mysterious industrialist, but it soon becomes clear that the game is actually a way of comparing one's own lives. Is considered one of the best films of Avati's career.
Opopomoz
Who says animation is only foreign? Enzo D'Alò is one of the masters of Italian animation cinema, author in 1998 of The seagull and the cat, and in 2003 he made this amazing film, suitable for young and old.
The plot is set in Napoli, where little Rocco is jealous for the birth of his little brother, which will take place on Christmas day, so he is misled by His Depth, the leader of the devils, and convinced to enter the nativity scene thanks to the magic word "Opopomoz": by preventing the birth of the Child Jesus, it will also prevent that of the little brother. But behind Rocco goes also his cousin Sara, who will bring him back on the right path.
Any goddamn Christmas
Among the Italian films to see at Christmas, the grotesque comedy cannot be missing written and directed by the authors of the cult series Boris: Alessandro Cattelan and Francesca Mastronardi are a young couple who end up spending their Christmas Eve dinner at the home of her rough and bizarre relatives. He, finding himself uncomfortable, argues with her and leaves, but the following day the girl decides to make up and goes to spend Christmas lunch with him and his friends.
Thus was born a hilarious clash between two worlds - North and South, industrial and rural - in which the supporting actors stand out, such as Corrado Guzzanti, Francesco Pannofino, Valerio Aperto, Stefano Fresi, Marco Giallini, Valerio Mastandrea, Caterina Guzzanti and Laura Morante. A curious expedient is that the latter play both the part of her relatives and that of his friends. Currently it can be found streaming on Netflix.
