I Nuovi Mostri: Viva Italia!

Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece now!

Viva Italia!  is a 1977 commedia all'italiana film, directed by Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli. Unlike a usual film with a single plot and the same characters revolving around a common main idea, this film is actually a compilation of 14 very different short stories, each with unique characters and plots. It is a sequel of the lesser known I mostri, made in 1963. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 51st Academy Awards and nope, it didn't win. The original title of the film is I Nuovi Mostri (The New Monsters) but since producers wanted to distribute it internationally, they felt the title Viva Italia! would sum up the idea behind the 14 short stories.

The film is made of 14 short stories, here's the complete list with titles:

1"L'uccellino della Val Padana" (The Bird of the Po Valley)

2 "Con i saluti degli amici" (With the greetings of friends)           

3 "Tantum ergo" (Only Then)

4 "Autostop" (Hitch-Hiking)

5 "Il sospetto"(The Suspect)

6 "Pronto soccorso"(First Aid)

7 "Mammina e mammone"(Mammina and Mommone)*

8 "Cittadino esemplare"(Role Model Citizen)*

9 "Pornodiva"(Porn Diva)*           

10 "Sequestro di persona cara" (Kidnapping, Dear)*

11 "Come una regina" (Like a Queen)

12 "Hostaria!" (The Restaurant)

13 "Senza parole" (Speechless)

14 "Elogio funebre" (Eulogy)

*The stories in red are the ones starred by Ornella Muti.

* These four stories are not a part of the international release known as "Viva Italia" which is the version being reviewed here today.

The structure of the film, although similar to the 1963 prequel, replaces the original social satire of the 60s for an updated criticism of the current state of things in the Italy of the 70's. Nevertheless, we don't need to know about Italian history or world cultures to enjoy this master piece.

This is how you fix a car you moron.

Italy's number 1 beauty export.

Viva Italia! (yes, I like this title) was released in three different editions: the integral edition, which comprises the 14 episodes above mentioned and it runs for a total of 125 minutes. the Intenational Family rated edition, and probably  the best known comes with 9 episodes in 90 minutes and the third edition is another version cut which consists of 12 episodes and lasts 104 minutes. 

Now, let's take a look at a short by short review:

1. The bird of the Po Valley by Ettore Scola
 
Ugo Tognazzi plays the husband and manager of famous singer Orietta Berti. Since he keeps on exploiting her talent to the limits, her vocal chords eventually fall short. After a failed and forced surgery, she loses her magnificent voice, but Tognazzi is one step above so, he stages an accident where she'd be crippled and forced to sing on a wheelchair. Perhaps the weakest story in the pack. Nevertheless a strong critic to the music industry that doesn't grow old.

2. With The Greetings Of My Friends.

This is perhaps the shortest short out of the 14 in the movie. Essentially, a well known mobster who happens to be walking by in a small town is surprised by a car packed with machine guns that killed him instantly. What's funny here is that every witness, denies having seen anything related to the murder, hence the name. Clearly, this story was made to demonstrate Italians know how to have a good laugh about their own cliches.
 
3. Only Then.

Italy, a country with deep Catholic roots. The "Tantun Ergo" story, named in convenient Latin (a religious language to some) essentially explains the frustration a small town has against unfinished businesses and promises made by politicians. The priest, has offered his church to help them and a mediator find a way to settle their differences but, since the crowd is so angry and dissapointed he has no way of having them convinced things can get better. Things change all of a sudden when a higher level priest accidentally comes into town and lends a hand to the situation. What's funny here is that through reading passages from the Bible and religious chants he convinces the wild crowd things will get better through God's grace.

"Mom, I gotta get rid of you ASAP or else my wife's gonna kill me"

For God's sake, get me some help to get out of this hell hole.

4.Hitch-Hiking.

Ornella Muti (in her prime I might add) plays a young hitchhiker who crosses her way with a salesman. Since, she's young and attractive,  the driver has no hesitation on hitting on her, something she dislikes with a passion. In order to get rid of the man she reads from a newspapers that a group of women have escaped recently from a prison nearby. Unfortunately, things turn out deadly wrong. 

The Restaurant.

This is perhaps the best short in terms of laughs. A frenetic style comedy set in the kitchen of a restaurant in which the two waiters Gassman and Tognazzi exchange insults and a hilarious food fight while the cook is getting their customers their meals ready.

First Aid.

This is another brilliant short that criticizes through laughter the Italian health system. When a rich man going to an important meeting finds a hurt man in Mussolini Square, he decides to take the poor man to the nearest hospital. The problem is, every hospital is either at full capacity or requires the patient to comply with certain aspects in order to be assisted. 

Like a queen of Ettore Scola

Alberto Sordi plays Franchino, a husband and son that due to intense pressure from his wife, is forced to take his elderly mother to a nursing home. Tinged with effective melancholy and often hilarious lines in some passages, the short moves quickly to dig deep into a strong criticism against the new fast-paced lifestyles of the period where the elderly seem to be nothing but a burden.

Listen to our songs while you're away.

This is a happy eulogy!

Speechless.

This segment presents Ornella Muti with all her stunning beauty as a stewardess taking a break. During that break she meets a silent man, and they both begin hitting on themselves until they sort of develop a quick love relationship. The problem is this guy doesn't speka any of the languages Muti speaks (Italian, French & English) so the relationship is build upon symbols, specially music. The short features a couple of well known songs from 1977: All By Myself by Eric Carmen & Ti Amo by Umberto Tozzi. When the lovely stewardess has to return to her duties, this silent lover brings her a radio with the songs they used to listen while together. The grand finale, will leave you speechless, believe you me.

The eulogy.

The funeral of a comedian turns into a big happiness carousel through which a histrionic Alberto Sordi pays tribute to deceased colleague. This magnificent brief episode serves as the closing of the movie, including extremely Italian customs.

Now, let's enjoy a few gems from this masterpiece EVERY connoisseur should watch at least once in their lives, because Italy is such an magnificent and influential country, everyone should fall in love with it.

Here's world famous ballad "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen:

Here's the Italian classic Ballad "Ti Amo" by Umberto Tozzi as shown in the original short Sensa Parole (Speechless) Spanish subs only:

Here's Pronto Socorsso (First Aid) Spanish audio only: