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Movie Review

The film Benvenuti al sud can be defined as a comedy Italian style because Italian comedies often involve sharp social criticism instead of the normal acceptable humor in art. The Italian comedy involves conflicting values that expels traditional norms like prejudice and bias among others. The film Benvenuti al sud adopts the theme of fighting prejudice that the south had towards the north. Alberto a post master is transferred to a simple village in the north against his will since he viewed it as insignificant, but after staying for a few days he comes to love the place and its people. Italian comedy also includes dramatic themes that are supplemented with humorous acts. Alberto pretends to be disabled which shows a violation of human emotions, but he presents the scene in a comic manner (Hooper).

The films I am not Scared and Life is Beautiful are similar in that, both focus of childhood innocence. Ebert (332) cites that, I am not Scared features Michele a young boy who finds a kidnapped boy called Filippo and begins to help him even without knowing the circumstances that led him to stay in a cave. Piper (78) describes Life is Beautiful with Joshua living in concentration camp with his father without knowing the horrors that surround him. The two films also center on theme of sacrifice as Guido in Life is Beautiful offers his life and devolution to his son Joshua to protect him from uncovering the terrors of the holocaust. In I am not Scared, Michele risks disobeying his parents and fighting with his friends to protect Filippo from befalling any harm (Ebert 332).

Italian comedy is characterized by simple themes tied to the popular culture of the Italian people. It involves a tangle of stories with features that include satire, bourgeois background, and also bittersweet approach of narrating events. The films involve dramatic and sometimes tragic themes that focus on destroying traditional stereotypes, prejudices and bias against other members of the society. The comedies focused on light subjects that occasionally engage social reality that seems abandoned like sexuality. Additionally, the comedy takes up sharp irony and even bitter endings that reflects how life evolves (Hooper).

The male and female roles in Italian movies differ, as women take inferior roles compared to their male counterparts. In essence, in most cases women have always taken the traditional roles of social duties as mothers and wives. Women also appear underrepresented in many movies or their roles are used to highlight the male protagonist in the story. However, today the films have increased women responsibilities as protagonists and leaders unlike in the past. The male role in many Italian films features masculinity and strength. Many men act in parts as leaders, guardians and protectors of the family. Men occupy bigger and more roles than women in most films making their responsibilities essential for the development of the society (Hooper).

Italians are courageous with moral strength and perseverance to withstand tough circumstances. For example in the film Life is Beautiful, Guido showed courage as he shielded his son Joshua from the horrors of the concentration camps and went to look for his wife Dora even in the face of the enemy (Piper 78). Italians are caring because they show kindness and also concern for others. For instance, Michele from the film I am not Scared portrayed kindness dealing with Filippo a boy who had been kidnapped. Filippo had no one to support or protect him from the world, and Michele even being a child himself, showed great concern and offered his assistance (Ebert 332). They are also thankful as the films show that Italians express gratitude and appreciation. In the movie Benvenuti al sud, Alberto and his family realized that their prejudice against the north was unwarranted and showed gratitude to the people there before leaving (Hooper).

I think Italians are optimistic people who see the positive and favorable side of life. They hold unto hope and expect the best possible result of things in their life. For example, in the film Life is Beautiful, Guido held out hope that even though Dora was set to marry a rich government official, he would be able to conquer her heart. He also held hope that he and his son would be safe in the concentration camps even though they were being terrorized and others killed each day (Piper 78).

Works Cited

Ebert, Roger. Roger Ebert’s Movie Yearbook 2007. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2013. Print.

Hooper, John. “Hit film gives Italy chance to close north-south divide.” theguardian. 15 October 2010. Web. 10 June 2014. < http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/15/film-italy-north-south-divide>

Piper, Kerrie. Life is Beautiful. Glebe, Sydney: Pascal Press, 2003. Print.