Small Dose of Italian Culture #30

Welcome to the 30th edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture!

Italian Movie

I Vitelloni (1953, The Bullocks) is a comedy/drama directed by legendary Italian director Federico Fellini. The story follows the lives of five “vitelloni,” a slang term for pleasure-seeking slacker youth. People drifting through life in a provincial Italian town, stuck between adolescence and adulthood.

This movie speaks to me because it perfectly captures post-war Italian society, particularly the youth's sense of stagnation and lack of opportunity. It’s a classic that any Italian learner should watch at least once.

Italian Song

The Italian song I’d like to highlight is Anima Mia by I Cugini di Campagna; a song sung in falsetto and sometimes parodied because of it.

Interestingly, during a concert of theirs I attended, they pointed out that the singer had a four-octave range, much like Freddie Mercury, demonstrating for the crowd how he could sing in a super high-pitched tone but also go all the way down to baritone.

Famous Italian

Fiorello (full name: Rosario Tindaro Fiorello, 1960 —) is one of the most famous entertainers in Italy. He started his career working as an entertainer in tourist villages, where he was discovered and eventually showcased his many talents (singing, impersonating, presenting, and more) on the radio and ultimately on television.

His karaoke program in the ’90s was legendary and watched by millions of Italians.

Fiorello is still popular to this day, even co-hosting the 2024 Sanremo Music Festival.

Pop Moment

In an episode of the Italian Wheel of Fortune (La Ruota della Fortuna), a contestant (Giancarlo Pelosini), forever immortalized as "Il signor Giancarlo,” risked giving up a major cash prize in order to make a joke.

This was the board before the solution was revealed:

The clue was about the Amazons. The correct answer was “Vinsero battaglie grazie alla loro foga” (“They won battles thanks to their fervor”).

Il signor Giancarlo, however, chose to say, “Vinsero battaglie grazie alla loro figa” (“They won battles thanks to their p*ssy”).

The studio erupted in laughter as the Italo-American host Mike Bongiorno feigned indignation.

Some find it hilarious, believing that il signor Giancarlo chose glory over mere money, while others view it as childish and sexist.

Either way, it’s a pop culture moment that hasn’t been forgotten.

Italian Landmark

If you’re visiting Venice, you must take a vaporetto (water bus) to visit Murano. There, among colorful buildings, you’ll find many glassblowers who will (no pun intended) blow your mind with their skill and artistry. Murano glass is among the finest in the world, with intricate pieces fetching thousands of dollars.

Photo by Kevin Charit on Unsplash

Italian Dish

La Pastiera is a popular sweet in the Naples area. It’s a rich cake made with ricotta, grains, and candied fruit. As a kid, I didn’t like it because of the candied fruit, but as I grew up, I became a major fan and was blessed with a Neapolitan mother who made an insanely good one.

By Mattia Luigi Nappi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Italian Proverb

La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi.
(Literal: The hasty cat made blind kittens.)

This popular proverb encourages us not to rush things to avoid mistakes. It is a similar concept to Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture. Alla prossima!