2010 | 102 min | Comedy | Italy | Italian with English subtitles

CAST Claudio Bisio, Angela Finocchiaro, Alessandro Siani, Valentina Lodovini

Italy has dozens of dialects and distinct regional customs within it, and consequently, fertile ground for cultural ignorance. Welcome to The South takes its cues from the North-South divide but has a ball, poking fun at both. It is the story of an uptight Postal Director, Alberto, who is posted to a town near Naples as punishment. He is nothing short of terrified of the Mafia, the food, the chaos, laziness and all the stereotypes under the sun. He arrives wearing a bulletproof vest armed with a Northern sense of superiority. His trepidation and scepticism are soon turned on its head by the charm and warmth of the motley bunch of locals. But when his wife decides to come down from Brianza, the town rallies to create an elaborate ruse for her.

…requires much suspension of disbelief but it’s perfectly entertaining if silly fun.

 Natasha Senjanovic. The Hollywood Reporter

WINNER

Gold Medal Best Film. Salerno International Film Festival

WINNER

Capri Italian Box Office Award

WINNER

Best Supporting Actress. Valentina Lodovini, Kineo Award