Italy: Love It, or Leave It (2011) User Reviews

North vs. South

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 26 May 2013]

European Style that is. The situation in Italy is not easy. But other countries from the south are facing similar problems, so if you are from one of those regions you may recognize a few things in your own culture. But even if you are not from Europe or are not familiar with some "traditions" from Italy this documentary is really more than solid in making it all very accessible.

There are the positive aspects of a country and there are the negative aspects of it. The movie tries to cover as much as possible. And although I'm not an insider and there might be even more to it (which I hope will be covered in deleted scenes on a feature release), the documentary is not just serious, but also very light. There is no better way to make people understand, what is going on, then through comedy (from time to time that is). I really enjoyed watching this and it might open a few eyes too

an entertaining and fascinating documentary that explores life in contemporary Italy

[gregking4 · 7/10 · 6 April 2013]

This is an entertaining and fascinating documentary that explores life in contemporary Italy. When filmmakers Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi (the documentary Suddenly Last Winter) get an eviction notice forcing them to leave their flat in Rome, the pair are faced with a decision – to find somewhere else in Rome to live or go to Berlin to live. Luca wants to remain in his native country, and tries to convince Gustav of the beauty and positive aspects of Italy. The pair embark on a six-month cross-country journey, exploring the rich history, culture and politics of Italy. But they go beyond the usual postcard beauty and tourist attractions to uncover more about the soul of Italy and its people. They also discover a lot of contrasts between the beautiful aspects of Italy's diverse regions and the ugliness of its corruption and decaying society. Italians may have won 57 Oscars and many Nobel Prizes, but apparently the succession of Italian governments are not too concerned about supporting culture. Garbage has been piled up on the streets of Naples for 15 years, and Sicily is full of unfinished buildings that have been paid for by tax payer money. Berlusconi is on the nose with many people who see him and his sexual scandals as a disgrace. Young people are leaving Italy in droves because of its unemployment, inflation, lack of opportunity. However, there is also an unexpectedly playful tone to the film as the pair talk to many average Italians as well as exploring some of the problems facing the country. Diversions include a trip to visit George Clooney's home beside picturesque Lake Como, which is apparently polluted. The scenery is fantastic, and the film has been beautifully shot by cinematographer Michele Paradisi