Hi! I’m Not Italian!
Hi! I’m Cheri. I’m not Italian.
I love Italian cooking and movies, studied the Italian language in Rome, travel to Italy a couple of times a year (mostly to go to the movies) and I married an Italian American. Now I even teach an “Italian for Tourists” class that people think they are going to like until they find out that learning a language is hard.
I started going to see Italian movies about 10 years ago and became annoyed when people said that there weren’t any good ones anymore, that the Italian film industry was dead. I aim to change that (incorrect) perception with this blog – and beyond that, I just love writing and talking about Italian movies.
If you want to know more about the movies I love, start watching them! Check the right sidebar of the home page for reviews, links to movies that you can stream, and lots of other information to get you going. And leave me a comment – I’d love to hear from you.
Un Bacione,
Cheri
85 Responses to “Hi! I’m Not Italian!”
Ciao Cheri, I’m also not Italian but I’m the organizzer for an Italian language group in Washington, DC (http://meetup.com/italiano). We screen an Italian film each month. I enjoy reading your reviews and I agree that Italian cinema should be more appreciated here. Where do you live? Anywhere close to Washington, DC? Buona settimana! — Keith
This is so nice to hear! I WISH I lived near you! Magari! I’m in Ohio. I have been looking at your website and I would kill for a group like yours – you do a good job!
Grazie mille! Some of the upcoming films for the group…. la banda dei babbi natale, cose dell’altro mondo (looks interesting… like Terraferma it deals with the issue of immigration but it’s a commedy). By the way, where did you see Terraferma? Saluti — K
Brag alert: I saw it at the Venice Film Festival! I had a press pass! And YOU WILL LOVE La Banda dei Babbi Natale!
Hi cheri,
My name is Paul and I’m a second generation Italian born and living in London.
Just thought I’d take the time to compliment you on your excellent blog/website!
I love Italian movies too – probably ever since I saw mediterraneo for the first time…
The last movie I saw was mid august lunch which I really enjoyed – one of our BBC channels here showed it last month together with a couple of episodes of the tv series based on andrea camilleri’s books which were great too.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Hi Paul! Thank you so much! Mid August Lunch is so good – and if you like that one watch for Gianni di Gregorio’s new one, “Gianni e le Donne” – they’ve renamed it “The Salt of Life” in English. It’s about a guy who retires and his friends convince him that he needs to take a lover.
Hi Cheri,
I’m Silvia, I’m italian but right now I live in Canada! I’ve been reading a little of your articles in these last days, they are sooo good! It’s very interesting to hear somebody talking about our movies, it helps to get a better perspective! So go on with your excellent work!:)
Grazie mille Silvia! Mi piaciono da morire i tuoi film! Piacciono anche a te?
Sure
It’s for that that I want to go to DAMS as soon as I get back 
hi, i’m a 30 years old guy from greece
quite randomly, i have really got an obsession with italian movies recently, especially those of the younger generation , which unfortunately are underestimated and difficult to find here too
so, i happened to discover your blog some months ago,looking for suggestions and information about the italian cinema, and i would just like to let you know that you have gained another friend, even so far away from the us.
keep up the good work !
I am so glad to hear you say that! Thanks so much! What are your favorite movies?
hi,again,
well my all time favourite (from the world cinema) would be Godfather I&II, however regarding italian cinema i like a lot of movies from the current generation of filmmakers, such Caos Calmo, Anche Libero va bene, Romanzo Criminale, Il Divo, Non Ti Muovere,Caterina va in citta etc. Even if sometimes the italian films are not that great, they have great actors&actresses and a kind of sincerity
in general i tend to like modern european cinema more and more
You boys always love Romanzo Criminale! LOL I like the girlier ones! I think you are my new best friend – you have good taste in movies!
thanks for your warm welcome!i am trying to find “Lo spazio bianco”(isn’t Margherita Buy fantastic?) have you seen it? we will share opinions,since we share the same sense of taste in movies!
I love her too! I have Lo Spazio Bianco and I bought it at – have you tried there? Is your DVD player the same region as the Italian ones?
Did that link turn out alright? I’ll try again – http://www.ibs.it
yes,i think it’s the same region, i’ll check,thanks anyway.
Ciao Cinemapannetone! I am looking for sites I can watch Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo movies. I have netflix dvd and stream but I cannot find any of their movies. I might also have amazon stream but never tried it. Where do I go to find Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo movies?
The ones I have I have bought in Italy or at http://www.ibs.it . Do you have a region free DVD player and do you need subtitles?
Buon giorno, Have you seen “Il primo incarico”? It sounds like a great movie and I’ve ordered the DVD with English subtitles. Saluti — K
I have to thank you! I have this and kind of forgot about it – I haven’t watched it yet! I think I’ll watch it tonight, so let me know what you think.
hi again!
i still haven’t managed to find the time to look for Lo Spazio Bianco , but yesterday I watched “Il gioiellino”, about Parmalat etc, I think you have already written about it.
The film as a whole is good but not flawless,(interesting as it talks about the global financial and bank system, which has caused so much pain to my country too) but what is certain is that Tony Servillo is a magnificent actor. I have seen him some times now and I think that it is quite “safe” to say that he’s one of the best Italian actors nowadays.
ps.is it ok that I am posting here about movies and actors or should I write in another sector of the blog?
I love Toni Servillo! Try here http://www.ibs.it/dvd-film/francesca-comencini/spazio-bianco/8032807031729_.html and here http://www.amazon.com/White-spazio-bianco-NON-USA-FORMAT/dp/B0038PDF4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326835300&sr=8-1 for Lo Spazio Bianco.
Did you like Giorni e Nuvole?
yes, “Giorni e Nuvole” is a nice, kind of sweetly melancholic movie. it’s about the financial crisis, unemployment and the consequent difficulties in human relationships (but what happens in Greece right now is much darker, feels more like e.g. the spanish “Los lunes al sol” with Javier Bardem or like some of Ken Loach’s films.)
My favourite Margherita;), as always, moving, powerful and beautiful!
Dear Cheri,
I came across your site while I was searching for the film Noi Credevamo. I am hoping that you have some information/knowledge about where/how I can rent/buy this film in the US?
Even better with subtitles as my Italian is beginning intermediate?
Thank you so much,
Francine Panelli
Hi Francine!
I bought Noi Credevamo from http://www.ibs.it – a really wonderful source – but you can also get it from Amazon – It has English subtitles too, but here’s the bad news: It’s only avaible in PAL Area 2 format, which means you either need a PAL Area 2 DVD player or region free DVD player. Do you have either of those? If now, it’s a worthwhile investement if you love watching movies from all over the world. My region free DVD player was only around $40 and I got if from Amazon.
Let me know if you need more help!
Hi. I am also in DC and was looking for a movie which I watched this summer on a KLM flight from Amsterdam. It was historically based and was set in Italy in the 1880′s as it was becoming the country that we know today. I do not know the name but would like to find it to finish watching it.
Great site, by the way.
Bill
Bill, could it have been Noi Credevamo? Was it about the unification?
“The Italian poet, novelist and screenwriter Tonino Guerra, who has died aged 92, brought something of his own poetic world to the outstanding films he co-scripted with, among others, Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni and Francesco Rosi, but also many non-Italian directors including Theo Angelopoulos and Andrei Tarkovsky. Perhaps his most creative contribution was to Fellini’s colourful account of life in a small coastal town in the 1930s, Amarcord (1973), of which he was truly co-author, because the film reflected their common experiences growing up in Romagna.”
Full obituary in The Guardian – http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/mar/21/tonino-guerra
Thanks for this! I know so little about Italian cinema beyond 10 or 15 years ago.
hi,cheri, this is giannis again from athens, greece. i am posting this
http://actionplus.gr/it/?q=node/1
as a piece of proof that your (and my) fondness of modern italian cinema is shared by more and more people all over the world. so, a “festa” of italian cinema is going to take place in athens next month and i hope that i will have the time to enjoy as much of it as possible
This is great Giannis! Thanks for sharing it!
They say Italian film industry is dead because it is good just for italian people, a german, an english or an american shouldn’t understan our comicality (that olso a lot of italians don’t understand!). American film industry works because James Cameron makes one huge film and it is whatced in all over the world, so it takes money from every side of planet.. an italian film is whatced only in italy, because they are very particular films. In Italy there are a lot of differences between culture of different region.. someone who lives in Lazio is completely different (in lenguages, thinking, kind of comicality, attitude to life) from someone who lives in Toscany.. and they border! To make money with the film industry you have to do a colossal like Cameron (you can do that only in America) or something really really wonderful for every heart that whatcs the movie (like Life is beautiful, Benigni)
I have this discussion with so many Italian friends – I understand what you are saying but I disagree. When I show Americans your films they LOVE THEM! We just don’t get many chances – the subtitles are a barrier for some – distribution is bad. I write this blog so that I can show non-Italians, primarily Americans, how to get their hands on your new films. People just aren’t very educated about them – but there are so many good ones!
Hi – Italo Australian emailing in from Sydney. Love Italian films also. Building up quite the collection.. even my Vietnamese-Australian wife loves them now. I tell you though… I have been searching forever for an English version of IL CICLONE. I’d even be willing to do the subtitles myself if someone could show me how!
Hi! Thanks for writing! I don’t think il ciclone is available with English subtitles. Is your DVD player region free or do you do mostly streaming?
Hi Cheri,
Interested in coming to Toronto? You may want to post a story on the upcoming Italian Cultural Film Festival (www.icff.ca). Looks like they’re evening screening To Rome With Love. Still will check it out despite my daughter’s negative reviews. By the way, I thoroughly enjoyed Habemus Papem. Highly recommended.
Thanks James! I’ll definitely write about it.
Hey I’m searching from some movie that I saw about 8 years ago Iremember a little I hope you saw it too so you can tell me the title of the movie (sorry my english I’m not american) It’s about a group of friends that are planning some road trip on a van one of them get married he cheats his wife after she do a lot of drama she forget him at the end of the movie this guy with voice in off says a touchin’ speech about having a family and wife and stuff… and at the very end a scene let you know that the wife is cheating on him too!! i just love the movie but I saw it just once at 3am or something on a cable channel… I really hope you know what movie is… my e-mail is mada1885@gmail.com thank you!!!! and have a nice day.
Give me some time to think about this, Miguel. I can’t remember anything right now but I am going to look through my movies and let you know!
Hey Miguel, I thought this sounded familiar……I may know the film you’re referring to. Could it possibly be “L’Ultimo Bacio”, from 2001? It stars Giovanna Mezzogiorno, my favorite Italian “girl next door”. There was an American remake in 2006 called The Last Kiss with Zach Braff. Naturally not as good as the original.
I thought of that too, but I don’t remember a van – and she wasn’t cheating on him. And I don’t remember a big speech at the end…
Not as good ? More like dog crap. Look there are only two Hollywood remakes of European films that are even better
than the originals while the rest are beyond the pale of beyond awful. They are SCENT OF A WOMAN and INSOMNIA and they both star Al Pacino. That says it all !!
I have the film on my computer….that’s why it’s so familiar. I was just scanning through it. One of his friends has a van that they all pile into and go to the sea. The two eventually overcome the indiscretion and stay together, and get married. The ending has Stefano (the husband) giving a voiceover speech as we see them happy together with a child. The last scene has Giovanna out for a jog, where another male jogger passes her in the other direction, but returns to run beside her. Meantime, we see her husband leaning over their child as he sleeps. She begins to smile, like she is familiar with this…..and the film cuts to black and ends. So you never know if she is or isn’t having/going to have an affair.
I may be wrong, but Miguel, check out the film anyway. It’s wonderful. Thanks Cheri for the challenge.
I love it!
Jim
Hey maybe you’re right! It’s been a long time since I’ve watched it. I really don’t like it very much – I gave it a terrible review, LOL.
I really love your website! I have been into all things Italian for a few years now – am still trying to learn the language, been to Italy several times, and miss it when I’m away from it for too long. It’s quite bad at this point as I haven’t been back in a few years.
I get my fix by watching Italian films often! Your website keeps me up to date with what is going in with Italian cinema, and the actors that populate it! Thank you and keep up the good work!! BTW – I’m obsessed with Filippo Timi as well! 
I’m getting ready to watch him in “As God Commands” soon! Have you seen that one? By the way, it really bothers me that Italian films don’t get as much attention as say, French films do. I think I actually prefer the Italian films I’ve seen recently over the French films, and even over many American films recently. Although, I am open to all forms of cinema, and love foreign films in particular. I just have a thing for Italians, can’t say why, but it is, what it is! 
Nice to meet a fellow Italophile! <3
Ps:- Honestly, I'm still trying to get into a lot of Italian comedies – at least the recent ones I've seen, haven't been that great. Do you have any you would recommend?
Thanks for writing – you sound like me! You should go to a language school sometime in Italy. I went to one in Rome that I loved. I would love to hear about the movies that you like!
Do you have a region free DVD player? They are cheap. There are some great movies that I can tell you about if you have one.
since Amazon created .it its really easy to get BD,DVD and CD titles from Italy. I know it siucks that Amazon has such a monopoly but your details are already in the system its so bloody easy !!
I know it’s easy now, but what happens when streaming takes over? I tend to use ibs.it now, but I worry about the death of the DVD!
Touche……
Hi Cheri,
Here is the first trailer for Garrone’s Reality in case you haven’t come across it yet. Released two or so days ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGLp-KrsZ38
Best,
Michael
Thanks! I can’t wait to get my copy! Hope I don’t have to wait long…
When is it supposed to come out in the theaters? Wait- I just saw it. Sept. 28.
Thanks for sharing that!
Hi Cheri,
just stumbled upon your website looking for foreign reviews of Il papa’ di Giovanna: I saw it yesterday and, yes, I know it sounds weird but when I see a really good italian movie I have to know what foreigners think about it and how it is perceived outside Italy.
I guess it has something to do with a sort of “intimacy” (pretty strong on Giovanna’s father, indeed) I feel when my own culture is portrayed and I’m curious about how that translates outside.
Anyway, I love the love you show for italian movies and the non-intellectual or critic-oriented perspective you give, so keep up the good work!
And, I’d like to help you with some suggestion, if you want
I would LOVE to hear about about anything you’ve seen! I am at Venice right now and I just saw E’ Stato Il Figlio – it’s amazing! Thanks for writing!
You’re welcome
I’ve just realized that you will find my suggestions rather vintage, but since you are in Venice, if you want to step back from the Festival atmosphere with a light, easy movie you can check out “Mari del sud” by Marcello Cesena (his only watchable long movie, in my opinion) .
Cesena is an amazing comedic sketch writer/director/interpreter and his psychedelia-bording comedy bits still crack me open 20 years later: unfortunately, he still hasn’t realized what it takes to manage more than one fixed camera, but I don’t know why, this movie always refreshens me.
Ciao!
PLEASE teach me about the vintage stuff – I know a lot about the modern films but almost nothing about the ones pre-2000.
Hi Cheri
I love Italian Movie too!!! I would like to talk with you about a project. it’s about Italian emerging movies..
Contact me as your convenience
Baci
Maria
I will Maria – and you win a DVD! Details will come soon!
Ciao Cheri!
I have loved reading some of your blog-posts, especially the ones about the Cinepanettone! I am 17 and have lived in Rome from almost 10 years, so of course I love (almost) everything about Italy!
Thanks for the blogposts and keep it up!
Any more thoughts about the phenomenon of the Cinepanettone would be very useful for an essay I am writing for school (I cinepanettoni sono veramente sul viale del tramonto?)
Grazie e un salutone,
Abigail
Thanks Abigail! Let us know if you see any good movies! I wish I could go to the movies in Rome every day – Magari!
Cheri
Just found your blog and I love it. I have been enjoying Italian films all by myself for many years and although I’m Italian I don’t understand 100 % but it hasn’t stopped me from watching. Thanks to all that contribute. I feel I’ve found the other parts of me that have been missing….
Joe
You’re so nice! I’d love to hear about your favorites!
Hey there!
I’m trying to remember the name of an Italian film I watched in a class in Florence.
It was about a schoolteacher who moves to a new town and is soon found murdered and a local Tunisian immigrant is charged (i THINK he was Tunisian); The story traces her time there, trying to prove the immigrant didn’t do it.
I can’t remember what it’s called!!!!
I just woke up and haven’t had my coffee yet,
. but do you remember the year of the movie (at least ball park?) ? It isn’t ringing a bell, yet. But if I don’t remember it someone who reads the blog will.
I can’t! I’m sure it was in the 2000s though. The town is next to a river, and the immigrant who is blamed is a car mechanic and tries to fix the schoolteacher’s red car. They have an affair (or supposedly do–the movie is about trying to prove that, too). I can’t only remember bits and pieces. It’s driving me crazy!
Thanks for your help
If it is pre-2000 I won’t be much help, but I’ll try to find out!
Ahh! I did one last google search with the key words and found it on the very bottom of the results!
It’s La Giusta Distanza by Carlo Mazzacurati!!!
I’m glad you figured it out! I even own that one but I’ve never watched it!
Ciao Cheri,
Love your blog. I have 2 questions for you..
I live in the Detroit area, and I’ve exhausted my local library’s Italian films. Can you recommend a region-free DVD player or a particular retail outlet where I could get one? I’d like to own more Italian films, especially ones that are not available here in the States.
also, i’m hoping i will still benefit from your recent contest to use towards ibs.it, i wasn’t sure if i should expect an email or something else…
ciao ciao e grazie mille,
Paolo
Hi Paolo! I’ll tell you about my experience with region free DVD players. First of all, people will sell you a “region free DVD player”, but I don’t think that they were made specifically as such. That said, there are many good ones for sale on Amazon. Mine is a Samsung C350 and I paid about $40 for it – looks like it’s selling for about $48 now. http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-DVD-C500-Region-Free-Player/dp/B002PU9ZEA/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1352995192&sr=1-7&keywords=dvd+all+region+player
I think many companies are fine, but I have started to stear away from Phillips because sometimes when you buy your “region free” DVD player, you take it home, hook it up, and it doesn’t work for all regions! (happened to me twice) This is really not a problem – you just call the company and ask for the code to unlock it. I think that there are websites that will walk you through this too, but I do better with a person explaining it to me. Anyway, when I called Phillips, they said that it was against the law to unlock a DVD player and make it region free.
I think that this law is a very grey area due to distribution rights and all, but most other DVD players see it the other way and are happy to give you a code. I have had many brands – my little portable Coby is very nice!
If you have any more questions please ask, but it is definitely worth the investment!
ibs.it did not send 2 of the gift certificates that I purchase but they say they will be delivered soon, so I’ll let you know! Also,
- Cheri
Also, Paolo, most computers with Windows Media Player should play region 2. The drawback is that there is a limit to how may times you can switch your settings from one region to another. To avoid switching, I exclusively play my U.S./North American formatted films on my DVD player… but for DVDs formatted for region 2 I use my laptop, now set to region 2, and then hook it up to the television with an HDMI cable. This is just another way to view these DVDs if you can’t get your hands on a player or don’t wish to spend the money…
I am a great fan of Italian movies but am frustrated that relatively few Italian films that don’t get an immediate international (i.e. US) distribution are sub-titled in English (or any other language). This is true I know of most Alberto Sordi films, as I am a big fan and have been scouring the web to find what I can. My Italian is enough to get the drift, but seeing Il Boom tonight made me appreciate what I would have missed without the sub-titles.
I wish I understood distribution! Get a region free DVD player and you’ll be less limited.
Hi…I am not italian to…I am from Czech republic…and I have to tell that I love Italian movies,people,food and language too….so I am so happy that I found your page because is really great and I love it
Thank you! You are so kind!
Are there any Italian film festivals in America? I don’t know of any.. I know there is an Italian film festival in Australia, sponsored by Lavazza. http://www.italianfilmfestival.com.au/ And yes, you can buy dvd box sets from the site, but they are out of this world expensive.
I wish I owned them though, because they contain films which I’ve never seen and which I doubt will ever be released in the States. By the way, Netflix seems to have cut back on offering Italian film titles. I cannot believe that they still don’t have Loose Canons! How is it possible that Amazon has it on instant video and Netflix doesn’t?!
Thanks for the info. My favorite Italian film festival is Open roads:new Italian cinema in NYC at Lincoln center. It’s usually in June but I haven’t seen the dates for this year.
Hi Cheri! My name is Andy- I’m looking for a film by Carlo Vanzina called “Mai Stati Uniti.” I was in a couple of scenes as an American character, and I’d love to see the finished product after getting to know the terrific cast and crew last year. I know the film was in theaters in early January, but I’m looking for a DVD/streaming option, since I’m in Los Angeles. I’d appreciate if you can find any info, thanks!
Hi Andy – that is so cool! It’s not out on DVD yet and may never get US distribution but you can easily get it when it’s released in Italy. You’ll need a region free player or the capability to watch a region 2 film on your computer.
I will watch for it and let you know.
Cheri
Thanks Cheri!!!
Cheri, I’ve never used ibs.it before, and I know you have. So I would like to ask: are the DVD’s factory sealed like they are in the States? also, is it possible to get free internal shipping if you make a large purchase? Thanks!
Not free but discounted. Email me at iloveitalianmovies@gmail.com and I’ll tell you everything.
Hi Cheri,
I saw Vincere last week. It was a good movie. If I understood it correctly, Mussolini seemed like a lousy husband.
This is Nick from IIA.
hahahaha agreed, but she’s a little on the nutty side.
Whats up are using WordPress for your blog platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create
my own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Hi! I use wordpress.com and it is almost too easy – there is probably less control than with blogger and you can’t do anything by yourself even if you want to! I like it, though.