Italian for Beginners
2000·Comedy·1h 58m
7.1
★
Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives. The film, which unspools the connections and family drama shared between the students, complies with several aesthetic principles of Dogme 95 movement.
Directed by Lone Scherfig
hotel
daughter
depression
friendship
waitress
venice, italy
hairdresser
italian
copenhagen, denmark
adult education center
language course
parent child relationship
priest
church
woman director
dogme 95
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Anders W. Berthelsen
Andreas
Anette Støvelbæk
Olympia
Ann Eleonora Jørgensen
Karen
Peter Gantzler
Jørgen Mortensen
Lars Kaalund
Hal-Finn
Sara Indrio Jensen
Giulia
Karen-Lise Mynster
Ejendomsmægler
Rikke Wölck
Sygeplejerske
Elsebeth Steentoft
Kvinde i kirke
Bent Mejding
Pastor Wredmann
Lene Tiemroth
Karens mor
Claus Gerving
Klaus Graversen
Crew
Lone Scherfig
Director
Lone Scherfig
Screenplay
Gerd Tjur
Editor
Jørgen Johansson
Director of Photography
Ib Tardini
Producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen
Executive Producer
Gert Duve Skovlund
Executive Producer
Marianne Moritzen
Executive Producer
Karen Bentzon
Line Producer
Lars von Trier
Associate Producer
William Knuttel
Unit Production Manager
Jørgen Johansson
Camera Operator
Popular Reviews
31 reviews
Gabriel Silva
8.2★ · 05/31/25
The dogme 95 style might seem like a weird fit for a romantic comedy, and even then it cannot break free from a lot of the dark humor or bleakness present in other films within the movement. However, Italian for Beginners at least uses those tragedies in order to figure out how characters can push through them, essentially finding the hope in the darkness. Stylistically, Italian for Beginners is a lot more structured than other films within the movement, setting up a lot of shot compositions that feel out of place to the movement, but not entirely antithetical to it. The use of montage, for instance, still uses music, but it is reasonable to assume that such music would still be diegetic to such a montage, if that makes sense.
The dogme 95 style might seem like a weird fit for a romantic comedy, and even then it cannot break free from a lot of the dark humor or bleakness present in other films within the movement. However, Italian for Beginners at least uses those tragedies in order to figure out how characters can push through them, essentially finding the hope in the darkness. Stylistically, Italian for Beginners is a lot more structured than other films within the movement, setting up a lot of shot compositions that feel out of place to the movement, but not entirely antithetical to it. The use of montage, for instance, still uses music, but it is reasonable to assume that such music would still be diegetic to such a montage, if that makes sense.
OwenPRO
8.0★ · 03/10/25
Bloke washed his hair 3 times and it was still greasy
Bloke washed his hair 3 times and it was still greasy
Club Skunk
8.0★ · 03/06/25
Baby's first Dogme 95 over here!! 👶🙋♀️
I really liked this. It's not like anything I'd seen before. The relationship between Karen and Olympia was my favorite part. They had several moments that were so moving.
I really liked this. It's not like anything I'd seen before. The relationship between Karen and Olympia was my favorite part. They had several moments that were so moving.
Baby's first Dogme 95 over here!! 👶🙋♀️
I really liked this. It's not like anything I'd seen before. The relationship between Karen and Olympia was my favorite part. They had several moments that were so moving.
I really liked this. It's not like anything I'd seen before. The relationship between Karen and Olympia was my favorite part. They had several moments that were so moving.
Riley Suka
4.9★ · 10/29/24
Fuck Hal-Finn
Fuck Hal-Finn
Yoavbergel
8.0★ · 10/16/24
another good film from the danish dogme 95 movement
another good film from the danish dogme 95 movement