La Dolce Vita

The people of a little village somewhere near Naples are true country bumpkins, no interest in anything but their own village lives. One day the government calls on farmer Esposito. He's told to sell his farm to make space for a new motorway linking northern and southern Italy. He has no intention of complying. His son Francisco is in love with village-beauty Maria but it all ends in tears. Frustrated and fed up with country-life he moves to Milan and fucks a few beautiful women. His doomed love to Maria and the death of his father push him into marriage with a woman he doesn't really love. In his twilight years Francesco starts an investigation as to what might have become of Maria and he finds out that she ended up in a convent. There she spends her days as a frustrated nun, grieving for her lost love.

Directed by Mario Salieri, La Dolce Vita leans on a strong ensemble — Bambola, Francesco Malcom, Venere Bianca — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2003.