Italian cinema's female-driven renaissance through De Angelis and Virzì

Christian Caliandro argues that Italian cinema is experiencing a resurgence driven by female-centered narratives, exemplified by Edoardo De Angelis' 'Indivisibili' and Paolo Virzì's 'La pazza gioia'. 'Indivisibili' (2017) is hailed as a collaborative breakthrough, set in Castel Volturno and the Gulf of Gaeta, following conjoined twins Daisy and Viola in a dysfunctional family within an apocalyptic community led by Don Salvatore (Gianfranco Gallo). The film blends neomelodic music, religious imagery, and a moral fable about growing up. Virzì's 'La pazza gioia' continues his tradition of Italian comedy, featuring an unforgettable friendship between Beatrice Morandini Valdirana (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) and Donatella Morelli (Micaela Ramazzotti), evoking classic Italian duos like Sordi and Gassman. Caliandro suggests these films revive a uniquely Italian cinematic ability to oscillate between comedy and tragedy, precarity and resilience, pointing to a new chapter for national cinema.