Small Dose of Italian Culture #37
Welcome to the 37th edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture!
If you haven’t yet, make sure you sign up for my new Italian practice site: Linguetto. Practice a little each day and you'll be surprised by how much Italian you pick up over time.
🎬 Italian Media
Aprile (1998) is an Italian film by director and actor Nanni Moretti. While often labeled a comedy, it's more accurately described as a semi-autobiographical documentary-drama hybrid.
The film mixes Moretti's gentle, offbeat humor with personal (almost intrusive) thoughts about being a father, making movies, and the messy politics of mid-1990s Italy (especially Silvio Berlusconi's rise to power and how the left struggled to deal with it).
A funny movie that makes you think.
🎵 Italian Song
I’m absolutely obsessed with Core Mio by Giovanni Block and Flo. A beautiful love letter to one’s own heart.
Here is the official video, and I’m including the Neapolitan lyrics and my English translation.
Original Lyrics
Core Mio
Core core mio, ma ch’haje passato;
he fatt’’a faccia cchiù janca do cielo
Ca porta ‘a vernata.
Core core mio, lass’ ’a paura
M’arape ‘m pietto accussì guard’ ‘o mare
Ca s’ è fatto scuro.
Core core mio damme ‘na voce
mò vene ‘o tiempo ca te faccio scennere
‘a copp’ ‘a sta croce
Core core mio, cu ‘e mane aizate.
Haje fatt’ ‘a guerra a chi guerra t’ha fatto
O a chi c’ ha pruvato
Core core mio, uocchie ‘e criature,
miettete ‘e scarpe e accumbuogliate buono
Nun stà semp’annure
Core core mio damme ‘na voce
mò vene ‘o tiempo ca te faccio scennere
‘a copp’ ‘a sta croce.English Translation
My Heart
Heart heart of mine, what happened to you;
Your face became whiter than the sky
That brings winter.
Heart heart of mine, leave fear behind
You open my chest so you see the sea
That has become dark.
Heart heart of mine, give me a voice
Now comes the time that I make you come down
From up this cross.
Heart heart of mine, with hands up.
You went to war with those who fought you
Or they tried to.
Heart heart of mine, eyes of a child,
Put on your shoes and cover yourself up
Don’t be always naked.
Heart heart of mine, give me a voice
Now comes the time that I make you come down
From up this cross.