Italians, a 2009 comedy directed by Giovanni Veronesi, has a well-known cast. Among others, it stars Carlo Verdone, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Sergio Castellitto, in a light and ironic role. From a cultural perspective, this movie is interesting. In fact, it was recognized as being of “cultural importance” by the General Direction of Cinema of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.
"Giovanni Veronesi highlights the nuances of being Italian. He shows that Italian identity is disjointed or at least multifaceted (it’s worth remembering that Italy did not exist as a unified country until the late 19th century). However, there are some basic things that seem to be 'Italian'.”
The film is divided into two episodes. The first is set in Dubai and shows a beautiful journey across the desert. Two Romans, Fortunato and Marcello, mean to deliver and sell a batch of smuggled Ferraris. Their voyage offers much in the way of humor and many opportunities for reflection, since it portrays the conflicts that arise among older and newer generations, the status of Italians in a foreign country, and their relationship with an emerging Oriental culture.
The second episode is set in St. Petersburg, Russia. Giulio Cesare Carminati, a famous Roman dentist, suffers from depression after a divorce. When he travels to an important conference in Russia, a friend convinces him that he needs sex in order to combat his depression. Giulio meets Vito Calzone, an Italian pimp from Sicily living and “working” in St. Petersburg. The story portrays Giulio’s funny misadventures, as he tries to play the part of a serious professional while being involved in shady affairs with Vito. Finally, he manages to save himself with the help of Vera, a Russian translator, who hides him in an orphanage. The second episode is linked to the first one by the emphasis on “Italian-ness,” although the former also deals with the differences between those from different regions of Italy (like Rome or Sicily).
Giovanni Veronesi highlights the nuances of being Italian. He shows that Italian identity is disjointed or at least multifaceted (it’s worth remembering that Italy did not exist as a unified country until the late 19th century). However, there are some basic things that seem to be “Italian,” even to non-Italian eyes, like sensitivity, generosity, temperamental “expansiveness,” a sense of humor, and an ability to adapt to different situations. The movie is also linguistically interesting, since it shows the peculiarities of some dialects. For example, phrases like “ha 'ddato dè matto” (he/she is crazy) are typical idiomatic expressions in Rome. Elsewhere, we can hear Vito, who is Sicilian, utter expressions such as “si arricrìa” (“si diverte” in regular Italian, or “enjoys” in English). He also employs the most famous Sicilian word of all, “minchia,” which has spread all over Italy. It literally means “penis,” but it may also mean something like “cool” or an assertion like “sure.” It has many other nuances, depending on the modulation of the voice.
"A passable attempt by Veronesi to catch the elusive features of Italian culture, rapidly changing while moving towards a more global perspective, though always linked to its millenary roots."
Italians, as the title suggests, is a movie about the many cultures and identities that make up a country. In the final scene, Giulio tries to explain Italy to the children in the orphanage, distinguishing different places by their dialects. A passable attempt by Veronesi to catch the elusive features of Italian culture, rapidly changing while moving towards a more global perspective, though always linked to its millenary roots.
