With the austere ethos of Dogme 95, most Dogme films tend to be naturalistic, serious dramas, dealing with heavy topics. Italian for Beginners is a Dogme film, but it’s one of the only lighthearted comedies considered to be one. It makes for a more casual, realistic approach to the romantic comedy, as students in an Italian class naturally build up connections through a subtle, dry humor, and consistent attempts to understand each other, as one does in a language class. It’s understated and subtle, but director and writer Lone Scherfig manages to make Italian for Beginners seem all the more charming.
Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives. The film, which unspools the connections and family drama shared between the students, complies with several aesthetic principles of Dogme 95 movement.
Looking for a change in their lives, six lonely adults in Copenhagen take a beginner’s language class to learn about love and the Italian language.
Mild spoilers: I’m actually surprised at the number of deaths here, yet somehow the film still manages to be lighthearted.
Movie overall = 7/10. Actual Italian language tutelage = 1/10.
Berlin
4 wins
European Film Awards
1 nomination
Goya Awards
1 nomination
