Davide Mauriello
If you like to visit Italy, this movie it's a good way to meet and knowing better Italians. Through the eyes of Gaetano, you'll be catapulted in a strong reality for an Napolitan guy in North of Italy, where a shy guy try to beat his frenzy and insecurity. Gaetano leaves Naples to go to Florence and there he tries to build a new existence, far away from the South Italian's stereotype. Of course, this will be impossible! Gaetano is inadvertently funny, people laughs with him out of his intention. His vision of the religion it's something unique for the timing of the movie and for the South of Italy. Gaetano it a simply guy, and everyone of us could be him.
Gerald A. DeLuca
This film is about a Neapolitan who moves to Florence. "Emigrant?" everyone asks him. "No, tourist. Everywhere we Neapolitans go, people ask if we are emigrants. Neapolitans travel also." The man in this lunatic comedy, and also its director, is Massimo Troisi who seems like a combination of Chico Marx, Totò, and Woody Allen on Dexedrine. He is as apt a comedian as a performer and his inspired nonsense can send an attuned audience (I suspect his comedy doesn't travel well) into convulsions of laughter. Here is a man who doesn't want to start a new life from zero or from scratch but from three. After all each of us has had two experiences in life that weren't that bad! Massimo Troisi is known to American audiences as the hero of "Il Postino". The actor died soon after completing work on that film.
priapo
Even if it's 20 years old, I think this film is still very relevant, because we remind ourselves in a portrait that depicts the previous generation.The less of prospects and strong ideals is very topical for this generation too. So the humor of Troisi is only a thin veil that hides a great bitterness.Troisi was one of the best authors of Italy.