Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, escaping on an international vacation or visiting unforgettable filming locations around the world is less accessible than it has been in a long time. But curating a movie marathon focused on one country (or even picking a favorite region) can elevate wanderlust to the level of actual experience, tricking the brain into taking its own mental vacation.
There are plenty of possible marathons to be had with these goals in mind; whether it's a Parisian getaway with a classic like An American in Paris or a deep dive into Grecian vibes with Mamma Mia or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. But Italy boasts some true classics, and its golden hour aesthetic has the effect of reinventing American cinema with a whole new flavor.
Roman Holiday (1953)
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck are a vision in Roman Holiday, as Hepburn's princess Ann seeks to ditch her royal life for some time in the real world. As she takes off on her own, she becomes interested in Joe Bradley, a reporter from America who has other intentions behind their acquaintanceship.
Though he originally took her in for potential career gain, he soon falls in love with the princess and she with him. They galavant around the streets of Rome, share treats, and spend time on river boats, casting the city as one of the great romantic playgrounds of classic holiday.
Letters To Juliet (2010)
Starring veteran actress Vanessa Redgrave and Amanda Seyfried in one of her best movies, the idyllic Tuscan backdrop cements this quest for lost love as a memorable rom-com in a string of the popular genre of the 2000s.
The film takes off in New York City, but soon Seyfried and her love interest are in Verona, where she discovers a courtyard where lovers write letters to Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet in the hopes of finding true love. The road trip to find Redgrave's teen romance features boundless vineyards, the streets of Sienna, and every scene holds warmth between the characters that envies the film's golden landscapes.
When In Rome (2010)
Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel star in When in Rome, alongside a cast of goofy suitors who chase Bell's character around New York. When she travels to Rome for her sister's wedding to her boyfriend of two weeks, Beth splashes into and collects coins from the Fontana de'Amore, unwittingly making their owners fall in love with her.
Though a large portion of the film takes place in New York, the characters eventually head back to Rome for Beth's wedding, only for her to second guess her groom's devotion and end up in the very same fountain to return the coin she believed was his.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Besides being one of the best movie home makeovers of all time, Under the Tuscan Sun is a movie that takes its protagonist Frances from the trenches of divorce into an international excursion, which has a more graceful arc than the likes of Eat, Pray, Love. In a string of happy accidents, Frances ends up on a trip to Tuscany and spots a beautiful villa for sale.
The fixer upper is charming and unforgettable, but it is her personal transformation that sticks with viewers. Taking her life into her own hands, she grows into her new self and inspires those around her to do the same.
House of Gucci (2021)
Lady Gaga's take on Patrizia Reggiani opposite Adam Driver's Maurizio Gucci is a perfectly complementary performance in which the pair grows with, and in spite of each other, set against stunning backdrops in Milan, Rome, and a faux Switzerland in Aosta, Italy, per House & Garden.
With a star-studded cast including Jared Leto, Al Pacino, and Salma Hayek, it's easy to compare other projects featuring the House of Gucci cast. But the opulence of this film is hard to match, in both locale and wardrobe.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
One of the best queer coming-of-age movies in recent history, Call Me By Your Name luxuriates in its Northern Italy backdrop, as the characters swim in the river, lay in the grass, and bike to the charming town of Crema. The central family of the film may make viewers want to take up language and piano lessons as they slip in and out of intellectual multilingual discussions and their 17-year-old plays his own versions of famous concertos.
The endless summer that frames the film is evident in every scene except the last, and the characters even seem to sweat and cool through the screen. Ignoring the troubling age gap between the two love interests, the film makes audiences feel within and without, as if they, too, have had the summer of their lives go by all too quickly.
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
This Academy Award-winning sequel to The Godfather digs into the past, creating a parallel between Michael Corleone's life in 1950s New York City and his father's youth in Sicily. The scenes in Sicily are beautifully shot though disturbing in content, as 9-year-old Vito swears vengeance on a mafia Don who murdered his father and escapes Italy to immigrate to Ellis Island.
The narrative returns to Sicily in 1925, as Vito visits his childhood home and seeks out revenge. For more glamorous, though still violent moments in Sicily, The Godfather features Michael's wedding to Apollonia Vitelli, which was shot in Savoca, Sicily, and provides some of the most memorable shots from the film.
Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of Shakespeare's beloved comedy is nothing short of lush, as acclaimed actors bring the bard's words to life while strutting around a stunning villa.
Per IMDb, the film shot in Villa Vignamaggio, Greve in Chianti, Florence, and Tuscany, Italy, encapsulated each region's land and architecture to perfection as characters fall in and out of love, chase each other through the maze-like garden, and exchange witty banter beside fountains.
Angels and Demons (2009)
Robert Langdon is unquestionably one of Tom Hanks' greatest characters of all time, and thankfully audiences get to see him step back into the role in The DaVinci Code's sequel. Angels and Demons may have a scary twist on the beautiful city of Rome and the Vatican, but the film gives attention to the city's historic layout, landmarks, and secret passageways (which may or may not exist in real life).
Within its framework of historical fiction, Angels and Demons brings excitement and adventure to its setting that make audiences feel like they're along for the ride. It wouldn't be surprising if especially savvy viewers could navigate their way around Rome after a few careful viewings.
Don't Look Now (1973)
One of Nic Roeg's masterpieces, Don't Look Now, begins in the dreary English countryside where tragedy strikes John Baxter's family. Donald Sutherland plays the grief-stricken patriarch who moves to Venice with his wife to restore the stained glass in a historic church. However, despite the idyllic setting and dreamy canals, a dark mystery pervades the film, and ultimately John Baxter becomes paranoid and confused, putting his life in danger.
The canals serve to increase the film's psychological stakes by creating a labrynthine effect. As the husband and wife fall deeper into their grief, they each turn to the puzzle before them with greater desperation. Mrs. Baxter becomes entangled with a group of metaphysically gifted women, and John begins to fear that his wife will fall under the city's supernatural influence.