Best films to help you learn Italian

At The Italian Academy, we always encourage our students to explore fun, imaginative and entertaining ways to help them with Italian language acquisition. One of the methods that our students find exceptionally useful when learning Italian is by watching Italian films. So, we’ve compiled a handful of suggestions of some of the best Italian films as an aid for students learning Italian. 

This selection of films will serve to help expand Italian vocabulary and give students hours of entertainment too. Our recommendations make use of common, colloquial language that Italian language students will be using all the time as their knowledge and understanding of the Italian language grows. And hearing Italian spoken in every day contexts is vital in developing the ability to relate and communicate conversationally. Bear in mind too that Italian cinema has a rich history and reputation at the vanguard of the world of cinema. 

Among the many advantages of using movies to assist with Italian language studies are that, depending on your level, you can watch along with subtitles and pause or rewind if you become confused. These days, so many titles are available on streaming platforms. For example, Netflix has a broad selection of Italian language films available to stream:

La vita davanti a sé (The Life Ahead) is a brand new release on Netflix starring the great Sophia Loren, written and directed by her son Eduardo Ponti. Loren plays Madame Rosa, a Holocasut survivor living in southern Italy who cares for the children of sex workers. Tipped for an Oscar nomination for her performance, Loren is at her magnetic best in this highly acclaimed tear jerker. Warning to all viewers: have a box of hankies nearby, you’ll need it. The storyline is quite complex, so we’d recommend it for intermediate to advanced Italian language students, unless you’re planning on using subtitles. 

L’ultimo paradiso (The Last Paradiso). Another Italian film new to Netflix. Based on real events, this period drama, set in 1950s, is a story of forbidden love and the refusal of the main protagonist to heed his family’s dire warnings of the consequences of pursuing dreams. Heavy use of slang and colloquial language make this an ideal choice for intermediate to advanced Italian language students.

My Way: The Rise and Fall of Silvio Berlusconi is a fascinating documentary about the life of the Italian business tycoon and politician, as told by Berlusconi himself. Viewers will be entranced by the extraordinary narcisissm and self-aggrandisment of one of Italy’s most notorious and celebrated leaders of all time. 

Benvenuto Presidente   (Welcome Mr President) A comedy caper in which an Italian nobody, named Giuseppe Garibaldi, mistakenly gets elected President Italy. Despite his limitations and obvious lack of qualifications for the job, it soon becomes apparent that Garibaldi’s common sense approach is precisely what’s needed. A very funny, satirical film that all Italian language students will enjoy. 

Now we’ll take a look at few Italian classics that are available to stream on other platforms or can be purchased cheaply online:

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Cinema Paradiso) regularly features at or near the top of film favourites for movie enthusiasts world-wide. This classic 1988 Italian drama won the Academy Award for best Foreign Language Film. It tells the tale of Toto, a successful but world-weary Italian filmmaker, looking back on his childhood in Sicily, during which he formed an unshakable bond with film projectionist Alfredo. If you haven’t seen this truly great movie, you are in for a real treat. The final “kiss montage” is one of the most moving scenes in latter day cinematic history. 

Il Sorpasso (the overtaking) is a 1962 Italian cult comedy classic considered one of the masterpieces of the commedia all’Italiana movie genre. The story offers a poignant portrayal of Italy in the 1960’s as the nation was undergoing rapid transition from its agriculture based, family orientated roots into a modern, more shallow, consumerist society. Considered by many to be the finest ‘road movie’ to emerge from European cinema, this superbly satirical film feels every bit as vibrant and relevant today as it did when it was first released. 

La vita è bella (Life is Beautiful) swept the boards at the Oscars, while winning numerous other awards and critical and commercial acclaim far and wide. Directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, it portrays the life of Jewish Italian bookmaker (Benigni) who must use his ingenuity and fertile imagination to protect his son from the atrocities of the German concentration camp into which they are thrown. Heartbreaking and charming in equal measure, the film never shies from its horrific subject matter, bit sustains a level of optimism for the human spirit that one would not have thought possible for such a storyline. 

La Dolce Vita (The Good Life) Fellini’s 1960 comedy drama details a week in the life of its star (Marcello Mastroianni), a journalist in fruitless pursuit of love and happiness in Rome.  Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, La Dolce Vita is rich in religious symbolism, character development and exploration of the human conditon and the ever changing world. 

Taking time out to watch some of the best Italian films to help you learn Italian is one of the best ways to pick up the nuances of spoken Italian as you immerse yourself in a language that’s rich in idioms and proverbs, dialect, slang, emotion, passion and humour. 

Improved understanding of the Italian language through watching films is going to require more effort from students than merely sitting comfortably on the sofa and enjoying the movie. Italian language students must be energetically involved in what they’re seeing and hearing. If a student comes across an unfamiliar word or saying, look it up and write it down! You’ll need a good dictionary by your side too!

Students would be mistaken if they thought that they can learn Italian just by watching movies!  But investing some time watching a few of the best Italian films, while studying Italian, is a really fun and valuable way to improve listening skills, develop use of spoken Italian, learn Italian slang and everyday Italian expressions, and broaden knowledge of Italian language and culture.