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Elena Bergia, BA, MSc, PhD

Fee £37.50 (concession rate £30.00) - fee will amend when you select the appropriate fee rate below.

New Year 2027

5 weekly sessions on Thursdays, 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm, starting 21 January

Italians are famously good at laughing at themselves and nowhere is this clearer than in Italian cinema. In this course, we will look at how classic and contemporary Italian films have exposed the vices and virtues of Italian society—sometimes affectionately, sometimes with a sharp, brutal wit that leaves no stone unturned. Using the famous Commedia all’italiana (Italian-style comedy) as our guide, we will see how filmmakers have used laughter to poke fun at the ‘big issues’: the North–South divide, the job market, clientelism, and the sacred (suffocating?) bond of the Family. We will explore the ‘strange creatures’ known as mammoni—grown men who just can’t seem to leave Mamma’s cooking behind. Through humour, we will go beyond the stereotypes and ask ourselves: how much of the cliché is actually true?

This class will take place on QUB campus

Support Requirements

If as a result of your disability you have support requirements, please complete a support needs form and return it 3 weeks before your class commences. The form is available to download here under the Facilities and Support for Disabled Students section or contact the office on 90 973323.

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