Small Dose of Italian Culture #33
Welcome to the 33rd edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture!
🎬 Italian Media
One of the most talked-about Italian films of the past year is Parthenope by Paolo Sorrentino (my favorite movie director). The movie is set in Naples and it’s a melting pot of nostalgia, beauty, and melancholy.
The title comes from the siren Parthenope of Greek mythology, a figure associated with Naples’ identity (in fact, in Italian, partenope is synonymous with Neapolitan).
It’s not a film with much of a plot, but it’s an experience, full of atmosphere and poetry. This is something that receives mixed appreciation from international audiences, but if you’re in the mood for something deeply Italian, this one is worth watching.
🎵 Italian Song
Most people outside Italy know Ricchi e Poveri for Sarà perché ti amo, which has become an international sing-along hit. But in Italy, another song of theirs, Mamma Maria, was just as iconic. Released in 1982, it was impossibly catchy and quickly became extremely popular.
🎭 Famous Italian
A name everyone is familiar with in Italy is Christian De Sica. He is the son of legendary actor and director Vittorio De Sica, who made classics like Bicycle Thieves. Christian, however, took a different path and became famous for comedies, especially the Christmas films known as cinepanettoni.
Because of this, he’s often underestimated, as if he were just a comic actor. But he actually has great range and presence, and when given the chance, he shines in more serious roles too. Personally, I’m a fan.
🏞️ Italian Landmark
Not far from where I spent my teenage years is Torre di Palme, a small medieval village in the Marche region. Sitting on a hilltop, it offers one of the most stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. The streets are narrow, the houses are perfectly preserved, and there’s a timeless quiet charm about it. If you’re driving through central Italy, it’s absolutely worth a detour.
🍝 Italian Dish
Italy has a pasta for every mood, and when you want something indulgent, you can’t go wrong with pasta alla zozzona. The name “zozzona” means “messy” or “dirty” and that’s exactly the point. It’s a glorious mix of guanciale, sausage, eggs, pecorino, and tomato. Think carbonara meets amatriciana meets cacio e pepe, all on one plate. It’s not elegant, but it’s pure joy.
🗣️ Italian Proverb
Dio dà il pane a chi non ha i denti.
(God gives bread to those who have no teeth.)
It’s a bittersweet saying about how life sometimes grants opportunities or resources to people who can’t really use them. A little ironic, a little resigned, very Italian.
👀 Italian Curiosity
Here’s something to prepare for if you come to Italy. Italians stare. A lot. It isn’t hostile, and it isn’t meant as an insult. They’re just very curious, and if you catch their eye, they won’t look away quickly.
When I first brought my fiancée, Alicia, to Italy, she got the full experience. We were sitting at a café when a woman started staring at us with absolute intensity, without blinking or looking away. After a couple of minutes, Alicia and I both burst out laughing. The woman was not amused and to the casual Italian observer, we’d have been the rude ones.
It can feel unsettling at first, but once you get used to it, you realize it’s just another little cultural quirk.
That’s it for this 33rd edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture.
A presto!