''Benvenuti al Sud'' () is a 2010
comedy film
The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...
directed by
Luca Miniero
Luca Miniero (born 17 January 1967) is an Italian director and screenwriter.
Life and career
Born in Naples, after graduating in Letters Miniero moved to Milan where he started working as a director of commercial shorts. In 1998 he started col ...
and a remake of the 2008 French film ''
Welcome to the Sticks
''Welcome to the Sticks'' (, ) is a 2008 French comedy film directed and co-written by Dany Boon and starring Kad Merad and Boon himself. The film is the highest-grossing French film of all time at the box office in France.
Plot
Philippe Abram ...
''. The film was dedicated to
Angelo Vassallo, an Italian mayor murdered for his anti-crime campaign.
[Article]
on the ''Corriere del Mezzogiorno
''Corriere del Mezzogiorno'' is an Italian local newspaper owned by RCS MediaGroup and based in Naples, Italy, with editorial offices in all over southern Italy (''Mezzogiorno''). It was launched in 1997 in Campania to handle the growing competit ...
'' A sequel, ''
Benvenuti al Nord'', was released in 2012.
Plot
Alberto Colombo is the postmaster of
Usmate Velate
Usmate Velate () is a (municipality) in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, about northeast of Milan.
Usmate Velate borders the following municipalities: Casatenovo, Lomagna, Camparada, Carnate, Arcore, Vimercate. ...
in
Brianza
Brianza (, ) is a geographical, historical and cultural area of Italy, at the foot of the Alps, in the northwest of Lombardy, between Milan and Lake Como.
Geography
Brianza extends from the Canzo area, North of Monza (approximately ...
, fails to secure a transfer to Milan, which was given to a disabled colleague, much to the disappointment of both himself and his wife, who both wanted to move to the Lombardic capital for a number of reasons, including securing their son Chicco's future. In an attempt to get the transfer he feigns
Paraplegia
Paraplegia, or paraparesis, is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek ()
"half-stricken". It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition that affects the neura ...
, however, he inadvertently stands up while meeting the inspector sent to verify his disability. As punishment, Alberto is transferred South to become postmaster of the provincial village of
Castellabate
Castellabate ( Cilentan: ''Castiellabbate'') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is one of ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
History
The area has been inhabited since Up ...
, described in the movie as being near
Naples
Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
. Should he refuse this transfer, he would be dismissed.
Before moving, he informs himself as to the living conditions in the South with members of the Academy of the
gorgonzola
Gorgonzola (, ) is a famously pungent Italian blue cheese made from unskimmed cow's milk; believed to have been created in the 9th century; now with use of its name controlled under the criteria of a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
Gorg ...
to which he belongs. Alberto is warned that there are many significant problems with the south, including
mafia
"Mafia", as an informal or general term, is often used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the Sicilian Mafia, original Mafia in Sicily, to the Italian-American Mafia, or to other Organized crime in Italy, organiz ...
, garbage in the streets, and stifling heat. After loading his car with fire extinguishers, sunscreen with a
high protection,
body armor
Body armour, personal armour (also spelled ''armor''), armoured suit (''armored'') or coat of armour, among others, is armour for human body, a person's body: protective clothing or close-fitting hands-free shields designed to absorb or deflect ...
, and
mousetrap
A mousetrap is a specialized type of animal trap designed primarily to catch and, usually, kill Mouse, mice. Mousetraps are usually set in an indoor location where there is a suspected infestation of rodents. Larger traps are designed to catch ...
s, and hiding his wedding ring, Alberto departs for Castellabate. After a long journey, exacerbated by a major traffic jam, in which he compares his situation to that of his brother, who fought in the
Kosovo War
The Kosovo War (; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Косовски рат, Kosovski rat) was an armed conflict in Kosovo that lasted from 28 February 1998 until 11 June 1999. It ...
, he arrives late at night, greeted by pouring rain. Despite his initial trepidation, he eventually befriends postman Mattia Volpe, Maria Flagello, and constables "Grande" (meaning "Large") and "Piccolo" (meaning "Small"), and ends up appreciating the beauty and the lifestyle of the town, realising that all of the negative perceptions of the south that he held were mere prejudice.
However, he conveys the opposite impression to Silvia, who seems biased against the south, and seeing an opportunity to strengthen their relationship, lies to her about conditions in the south, telling her that it is dangerous, unsanitary, and unpleasant. Silvia eventually decides to visit, and Alberto is forced to admit to his friends that he lied to his wife about the south, and spoke ill of them behind their backs. His friends initially resent him for what he did, but eventually the entire village decides to pull an elaborate ruse designed to give Silvia the impression that the south really is as bad as Alberto had been saying. The ruse works for some time, but then Silvia finds out and threatens divorce, thinking that Alberto was having an affair with Maria.
However, with Alberto's encouragement, Mattia and Maria get back together, as do Silvia and Alberto. Alberto's family joins him in the south, and after some time, he finally receives his long-awaited transfer to Milan. Though he and Silvia are happy to go home, they leave the south with heavy hearts.
Cast
*
Claudio Bisio
Claudio Bisio (; born 19 March 1957) is an Italian actor, presenter, comedian, voice actor, showman, director, cabaret performer and writer.
Early life
Bisio was born in Novi Ligure, Piedmont, and raised in Milan, Lombardy. He attended '' sc ...
as Alberto Colombo
*
Alessandro Siani
Alessandro Siani (born Alessandro Esposito on 17 September 1975) is an Italian actor, director, screenwriter and stand-up comedian.
Life and career
Born in Naples, Siani formed at the Tunnel Cabaret's acting laboratory in his hometown. In 1995 ...
as Mattia Volpe
*
Angela Finocchiaro
Angela Finocchiaro (born 20 November 1955) is an Italian actress.
She won the David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress in 2006 for her performance in '' Don't Tell'' and in 2007 for her role of Amelia Benassi in '' My Brother Is an Only ...
as Silvia Colombo
*
Valentina Lodovini
Valentina Lodovini (born 14 May 1978) is an Italian film and television actress.
Life and career
Born in Umbertide, Italy, Lodovini grew up in Sansepolcro and attended the School of Dramatic Arts in Perugia, then moved in Rome to continue her ...
as Maria
*
Nando Paone
Nando Paone (born 27 November 1956) is an Italian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films since 1977.
Selected filmography
References
External links
*
1956 births
Living people
Italian male film actors
{{Italy-film-actor ...
as constable "Piccolo"
*
Riccardo Zinna
Riccardo Zinna (18 May 1958 – 20 September 2018) was an Italian actor and musician.
Zinna studied under Augusto Perez at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli and at the Conservatorio "Licinio Refice". He began his acting career, which spanned f ...
as the traffic policeman
* Nunzia Schiano as Mattia's mother
* Salvatore Misticone as Signor Scapece
*
Francesco Albanese
Francesco Albanese (13 August 1912 – 11 June 2005) was a lyric tenor, particularly associated with the Italian repertory.
Albanese studied in Rome with Francesco Salfi, and made his stage debut in 1940, at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, as Eva ...
as the motorcyclist
*
Naike Rivelli as a policewoman
* Teco Celio as Gran Maestro
*
Giacomo Rizzo
Giacomo Rizzo (born 17 January 1939) is an Italian film actor. He has appeared in more than 40 films since 1970. He starred in '' The Family Friend'', which was entered into the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.
Selected filmography
* '' Il sindacalis ...
as constable "Grande"
*
Fulvio Falzarano
Fulvio Falzarano is an Italian actor.
Career
Fulvio Falzarano has worked in various companies in major Italian theaters. He worked with directors such as Mario Monicelli, Armando Pugliese, Renato Sarti and Giorgio Pressburger. He participate ...
as Mario
* Alessandro Vighi as Chicco Colombo
References
External links
*
{{Luca Miniero
2010 films
2010 comedy films
2010s German films
2010s Italian films
2010s Italian-language films
Films directed by Luca Miniero
Films set in Campania
Films with screenplays by Massimo Gaudioso
German comedy films
Italian comedy films
Italian remakes of French films
Italian-language German films
Cattleya films
Italian-language comedy films
Medusa Film films