Topics in Film Studies: Italian Cinema

3 units

This course analyzes Italian films that span from 1946 to 2024 and examines how several filmmakers engage with the representation of family relations to explore political conflicts, cultural changes, and social tensions in Italy between the end of World War II and today. Students will explore the rich repertoire of Italian filmmaking centered on configurations of motherhood, fatherhood, and brotherhood and how these films interpret and investigate the (often-divided) identity of Italy in the last 70 years. Some of the topics we will discuss are the legacy of Fascism; the rise of civil and political violence during the so-called "years of lead" (anni di piombo); the recent challenges in contemporary Italy such as the role of the mafia, immigration, gender and racial discrimination, and the role of social media. Both well-known directors and emerging filmmakers are featured for coverage. The course will also work collaboratively with the Italian Film Festival of Saint Louis in the development of materials, class discussion, and student engagement