If you're contemplating a movie night and finding it challenging to make a choice, look no further. We've curated a list of the best Italian films from recent times that promise to captivate you with their profound narratives, compelling performances, and unforgettable scenes. Get ready for an enchanting cinematic experience that will sweep you off your feet. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the immersive world of Italian cinema!
Summary: The 16-year-old grandson of John Paul Getty, one of America's wealthiest men, is kidnapped. A ransom of $17 million is demanded. Gail, John Paul Getty Jr.'s mother, approaches the billionaire father-in-law for the ransom, but John Paul Getty is notorious for his miserliness and finds the ransom excessively high.
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg
Summary: Margherita, a film director, is tirelessly working on what she considers the most crucial project of her career, a film about laborers. Balancing her perfectionism on set, Margherita also grapples with personal problems in her private life.
Director: Nanni Moretti
Cast: Margherita Buy, John Turturro, Giulia Lazzarini
Summary: Giorgio Rosa, a young engineer facing a tough phase in life, gets fired from his job. Dealing with family issues, including being ignored by his family and abandoned by his life's love, Giorgio strives to cope.
Director: Sydney Sibilia
Cast: Elio Germano, Matilda De Angelis, Tom Wlaschiha
Summary: Marcello, a kind and loving man, works as a dog caretaker. His life revolves around being a good father, but his divorce hinders him from spending enough time with his daughter. Despite the challenges, father and daughter try to cherish every moment they have together.
Director: Matteo Garrone
Cast: Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce, Nunzia Schiano
Summary: Gemma and Diego meet in Sarajevo, and Gemma's life takes an unexpected turn as she falls in love with Diego. However, Diego loses his life during the Bosnian war, leading Gemma to move to another country. Years later, Gemma returns to the land where Diego died, searching for traces of their past.
Director: Sergio Castellitto
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Emile Hirsch, Adnan Haskovic
Summary: Fred and Mick, two old friends, reunite at a spa/resort in the heart of the Alps. Fred, a retired composer, and Mick, a director working on his final film, explore their perspectives on their children and the trends of the new generation in this comfortable retreat away from societal chaos.
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Cast: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz
Summary: In a world overshadowed by conflicts between nations, a young boy in a small town is influenced by the arrival of the beautiful Malena. As he strives to reach adolescence, the boy discovers his own identity through the impact of Malena.
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Cast: Monica Bellucci, Guiseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico
Summary: 'Happy as Lazzaro' explores the mysterious friendship between Lazzaro, a seemingly foolish but genuinely good man, and Tancredi, a young man with enigmatic plans and lies.
Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Cast: Adriano Tardiolo, Alba Rohrwacher, Agnese Graziani
Summary: 'Never Look Away' focuses on Kurt Barnert, an artist who escapes from East to West Germany but cannot forget his childhood under the Nazi regime and his youth under communism.
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Cast: Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Paula Beer
Summary: Set in 1983, the film follows 17-year-old American-Italian Elio Perlman spending his days in his family's 17th-century villa in Italy. Engaged in classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia, Elio's world changes when Oliver, an academic staying with his family, becomes the focus of his attention.
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg