Weekly Dose of Italian Culture #10

Wow. Come vola il tempo! (How time flies.) Here we are with the tenth edition of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture, your gateway to discovering Italian movies, songs, history, geography, and traditions.

Italian Movie of the Week

My movie pick for this week is Tre uomini e una gamba (Three Men and a Leg) a hilarious classic from 1997.

In this movie, three hardware store workers—who got their jobs thanks to their special others being the daughters of the owner—are sent on a road trip to retrieve a piece of art: a wooden leg. Along the way, they encounter all sorts of problems and shenanigans, including one of them (who is supposed to get married) falling in love with a woman they meet on their journey.

I recommend this movie not only because it’s incredibly funny and still widely quoted to this day but also because it serves as an excellent introduction to the comedic trio Aldo, Giovanni, e Giacomo. These three have created a wealth of entertaining movies, shows, and skits that are well worth exploring.

Italian Song of the Week

My song of the week is Uomini Soli by the Italian group Pooh.

This melancholy ballad reflects on men who find themselves alone and lonely for various reasons. It’s one of the rare songs that deeply empathizes with the male experience.

Here’s a short excerpt from its lyrics:

A volte un uomo è da solo perché ha in testa strani tarli,
Sometimes a man is alone because strange thoughts trouble his mind,

perché ha paura del sesso o per la smania di successo.
because he’s afraid of sex or driven by a thirst for success.

Per scrivere il romanzo che ha di dentro,
To write the novel he carries within himself,

perché la vita l'ha già messo al muro,
because life has already backed him into a corner,

o perché in un mondo falso è un uomo vero.
or because, in a false world, he is a true man.

Famous Italian of the Week

This week’s famous Italian is Francesco Totti, a legendary soccer player widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Italian history.

Антон Зайцев, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

Totti spent his entire professional career at AS Roma, becoming a symbol of loyalty and passion for the club.

Renowned for his incredible skill, vision, and creativity on the field, Totti helped Roma secure a Serie A title in 2001 and multiple Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana victories.

Beyond his achievements, Totti is beloved for his charisma, humor, and humble personality, making him a legend in Rome and a cultural icon in Italy.

I still remember when I was in middle school, living in the Marche region, and a new principal from Rome told us about a boy he had seen play. He said, “That kid is going to become a star in the future.” He was talking about Totti and he was right.