Lucky Red (Italy): 3

This Must Be the Place (2011), an Italian-French-Irish drama directed and written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello respectively, tells the story of Cheyenne. The former wealthy rock star has been living a mundane and uninspired life in Dublin for the past two decades. His retirement was prompted by the tragic suicides of two of his teenage fans. Seeking some sort of redemption, he makes the journey to New York to make amends with his dying father, only to arrive too late. His justification for not being in contact for 30 years was due to his father’s rejection when he began experimenting with goth ...

Il divo (2008) is a biographical drama directed by Paolo Sorrentino that delves into the life of former Italian Prime Minister, Giulio Andreotti. The film competed at the Cannes Film Festival and received the prestigious Jury Prize. It follows Andreotti’s political career, which was plagued by accusations of Mafia connections and scandalous events such as his seventh election in 1992, his unsuccessful attempt at becoming President, and his controversial trial in 1995. As the film begins, Giulio Andreotti reflects on his ability to endure a tumultuous political career, unlike his ...

Open Your Eyes (1997) is a Spanish film directed and co-scored by Alejandro Amenábar, written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil. A handsome young man awakens to the sound of a female voice urging him to open his eyes. He drives through an empty city, before waking up once again, this time to find a woman in his bed. He instructs her not to leave him any messages on his alarm clock. From a Madrid prison cell, 25-year-old César recounts his tale to psychiatrist Antonio while wearing a prosthetic mask. Through flashbacks, we see that ...