What are some of the best Italian movies of the last 30 years?

August 22, 2009 9:15 PM

What Italian movies am I missing out on? I'm familiar with the post-war classics, but it's hard to come by more modern stuff in the States.

DVD region is not an issue for me; English subtitle availability is nice but non-essential, as my Italian will suffice. I'm not particular about subject matter or genre -- children's movies, action flicks, documentaries, whatever -- I just want to know what's out there in Italian film that's worth seeing, particularly from the last 30 years or so.

Movies I've seen and loved:
I cento passi (The Hundred Steps)
Caterina va in citta'
Mio fratello e' figlio unico (My Brother is an Only Child)
Pane e tulipane (Bread and Tulips)
Il ladro di bambini (Stolen Children)
Mediterraneo
Il postino
Hamam (Steam)
Cinema Paradiso
Johnny Stecchino
La vita e' bella (Life is Beautiful)
Kaos

And as a minor subquestion, does anyone have any recommendations for online sources for Italian DVDs that will ship to the US? I've used ibs.it in the past for books, but don't know if there are any other viable options for DVDs.

posted by katemonster to media & arts (11 comments total)

Gomorra.
posted by box at 9:28 PM on August 22

I'm Not Scared (Lo non ho paura) is one of my favorite recent foreign films - really excellent, and critically praised.
posted by ORthey at 9:50 PM on August 22 [1 favorite]

Hilarious movie: Maurizio Nicchetti's The Icicle Thief.
posted by zompist at 11:14 PM on August 22

La legenda del santo bevitore, Olmi is a great director and Rutger Hauer as the lead will just floor you (his best acting ever?).

How does horror/suspense suit you? Dario Argento has many interesting movies, I particularly like Suspiria and Rosso profondo.
posted by Iosephus at 12:52 AM on August 23

Le conseguenze dell'amore
posted by fire&wings at 3:57 AM on August 23

The Best of Youth is a sprawling family drama...about 6 hours long. And really, really good. I believe it made a bunch of year-end lists in 05/06'.

Also, seconding Gomorra.
posted by pilibeen at 4:30 AM on August 23 [1 favorite]

Il Conformista. trailer
posted by pxe2000 at 4:34 AM on August 23

caro diario (and previous moretti films)
posted by 3mendo at 4:38 AM on August 23

is 39 yrs too old? http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indagine_su_un_cittadino_al_di_sopra_di_ogni_sospetto (1970) apparently won an oscar too
posted by 3mendo at 7:08 AM on August 23

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis is actually almost forty years old, but it will not make you think post-war, Rossellini, Fellini, or Antonioi.

Fiorile
The Son's Room
The Monster (if you like Benigni's slapstick stuff)

Allegro Non Troppo- also a bit older than thirty years, this is a like a more vulgar version of Fantasia.
posted by aswego at 8:02 AM on August 23

Le Fate Ignorati and Notte Prima Degli Esami were good fun and both were a departure from most Italian films I've seen - both very light and sweet.

And seconding Io Non Ho Paura - great film!
posted by Fiorentina97 at 8:04 AM on August 23