After World War II, Italian cinema a new genre of filmmaking that became one of the benchmarks of their craft during that time, Neorealism. It's where people make movies about real working-class people, often shooting them in places where such people often are. A of the genre is "Miracolo in Milan," or "Miracle in Milan." Shot and set in the outskirts of Milan, the story tells of a young man with supernatural abilities and how he uses them to help others. A fantasy-filled production, it was also seen as a critical piece on oil industrialists at the time.
Source: IMDb
The 1980s weren't exactly the golden era of Italian cinema, but it did produce some gems! "Il Ragazzo di Campagna," or "The Country Boy," was one of them! It takes on a familiar trope in cinema: the misplaced the one where the country boy realizes his rural way of life is far different from the urban city that he has just entered. Considered as an Italian classic, much of the jokes in this slapstick comedy touch on the very sheltered and bubbled lifestyle of urban Milan,. And in many ways, the social yet comedic commentary on it is still relevant to this day!
Source: IMDb
Similarly, "Rocco e i Suoi Fratelli" ("Rocco and His Brothers") also explores the challenging times of moving to Milan, especially if they're from rural Italy. Directed by none other than master director Luchino Visconti, this take is much more dramatic, as it is sensual and violent at the same time. The mid-20th-century heartthrob Alain Delon stars as Rocco, a man from Southern Italy who, along with his four brothers, move to Milan in search for a better life. Along the way, they encounter romance, violence, and family drama. To their chagrin, they realize that Milan isn't the shining beacon of opportunity they thought after all.
Source: IMDb
Milan is a haven for the rich and famous. Everyone knows that by now. But like many other cities of its kind, It has drawn some shady characters into the scene. Enter Renato Vallanzasca. Back in the 1970s, Vallanzasca became one of the most notorious and infamous gangsters in Northern Italy. Not the least of which in Milan. His gang dominated the area with ther drug and sex trafficking, making the place one of the more dangerous areas in the country at the time. The 2010 film, "Vallanzasca – Gli Angeli Del Male" literally translated as "Vallanzasca – The Angels of Evil," shows the ruthlessness this mobster icon came to be the monster that he was.
Source: IMDb
As serious a city Milan may seem, it's still rife with comedic opportunities for maximum entertainment. And this was proven well by the 1997 slapstick comedy, "Tre Uomini e Una Gamba." English, that's "Three Men and a Leg," so the title alone already tells you just how hilarious this movie is. But also, how it shows Milan in a completely new light. The three men in the movie—Giovanni, Aldo, and Giacomo—explore all the places in Milan whilst trying to navigate them with a wooden prosthetic leg. And the situations they each go through are funnier than the next.
Source: IMDb
If you think you know Milan, it's better to think again. These five Italian movies show very different sides to the Italian fashion capital. Watch them yourself and see just how multi-dimensional the place really is! They're also great classics too!
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