Happy as Lazzaro
dir. Alice Rohrwacher · 2018
True happiness can be found in simplicity and genuine connections, even in the face of societal challenges.
Feature
Class Warfare
Mood
Melancholic / Contemplative
Look
lush, pastoral imagery with a dreamlike quality
Structure
episodic with a blend of realism and fantasy
Plot
Purehearted teen Lazzaro is content living as a sharecropper in rural Italy, but an unlikely friendship with the marquise’s son will change his world.
Why watch
"Happy as Lazzaro" intertwines magical realism with a poignant exploration of class and innocence, inviting viewers into a pastoral dreamscape where friendship transcends societal boundaries. This film is a lyrical meditation on exploitation and the enduring power of human connection in a changing world.
Cultural context
Italian agrarian economyfeudalism's lingering effectsthe contrast between wealth and povertycontemporary European social issues