Weekly Dose of Italian Culture #3

Welcome to the third edition of the Weekly Dose of Italian Culture! As always, we’ll explore a famous Italian movie, song, and personality, along with some facts about Italy’s geography, history, and customs.

Italian Movie of the Week

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you suddenly found yourself in the 15th century? That’s the premise of Non ci resta che piangere (Nothing Left to Do but Cry), a delightful comedy from 1984 that remains a favorite among Italians.

Non ci resta che piangere (1984)

The film follows two close friends who get caught in a storm and wake up in the late 15th century, somewhere in the Tuscan countryside. They meet none other than Leonardo Da Vinci and hilariously try to teach him modern inventions (and even how to play card games) only to realize they don’t know much about how those things work themselves!

Along the way, they navigate the challenges of life in a drastically different era and even plot to stop Christopher Columbus from discovering America.

This charming comedy stars two of Italy’s most beloved actors: Roberto Benigni, who gained international fame with La vita è bella (Life is Beautiful, 1997), and Massimo Troisi, adored in his hometown of Naples and across Italy. While Troisi may not be as widely known internationally, he earned some recognition among cinephiles for his role in Il postino (The Postman, 1994), released just before his unfortunate early death.

Italian Song of the Week

This week, I’d like to introduce you to 1950 by Amedeo Minghi.

Released in 1983, 1950 is a nostalgic love song with a delicate melody and touching lyrics. A well-respected songwriter, Minghi is known for his poetic and emotional songs, and this one is certainly among his most popular ones.

The song’s title refers to the years of Italy’s post-war recovery, and while it doesn’t directly address specific events, it certainly evokes nostalgia for that period.

If you're a fan of timeless ballads, 1950 is a must-listen. I plan to translate it soon.

Famous Italian of the Week

This week’s famous Italian is Piero Angela, a beloved educator universally known in Italy.