IMDb RATING
7.0/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives.Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives.Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives.
- Awards
- 21 wins & 22 nominations
Merete Voldstedlund
- Andreas' mother
- (scenes deleted)
Henning Jensen
- Leif
- (scenes deleted)
Steen Svare
- Sportsman
- (as Steen Svare Hansen)
- …
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn May 2010 it was revealed that Zentropa Productions officially acknowledged plot similarities to Maeve Binchy's novel "Evening Class". Writer-director Lone Scherfig 'borrowed' part of her plot from the Irish novel without giving any credit to the original author. Binchy was not credited in the original release of the film as Zentropa had determined they were not in breach of copyright, but after Binchy's representatives approached them they paid a non-disclosed compensation and added a credit for her in later releases.
- GoofsWhen Karen turns the dial of the IV, she reduces the dose instead of increasing it.
- Quotes
Olympia's Father: That sounds disgusting.
- Alternate versionsThere are two different versions of the film with different editing and sequencing. The original version shown at the Berlin film Festival and in several european countries ran 118 minutes; theatrical version shown in the US ran 112 minutes.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Bodilfesten 2001 (2001)
Featured review
What a pleasure "Italian for Beginners" is. Each character is appealing as well as complex and recognizable. A new pastor, bereft after his wife's death, interacts with an assortment of people who by accident or stumbling and fumbling intent come together in overlapping relationships. Romance is in the air, deaths dislocate several of the characters' lives, comedic movements help all to cope with the vagaries of life.
Taking place mostly in Denmark (with a restaurant manager whose style convinces me that he must have done an internship in a New York City eatery), the story revolves around the central goal of learning Italian. Only one of the main characters is from Italy, a beautiful waitress with the clearest agenda of anyone in the film. After wrestling through a non-Berlitz approach to the language all head for Venice where hearts meet and fun reigns.
Dogma 95 certificate or not, this is a convincing, endearing, excellent film. By intent or otherwise, many scenes are shot with a slight jerkiness that adds to a viewer's sense of inclusion.
Unfortunately this film won't screen in many theatres and rentals and sales will be the path to a wider audience. And this film merits a very big following.
Taking place mostly in Denmark (with a restaurant manager whose style convinces me that he must have done an internship in a New York City eatery), the story revolves around the central goal of learning Italian. Only one of the main characters is from Italy, a beautiful waitress with the clearest agenda of anyone in the film. After wrestling through a non-Berlitz approach to the language all head for Venice where hearts meet and fun reigns.
Dogma 95 certificate or not, this is a convincing, endearing, excellent film. By intent or otherwise, many scenes are shot with a slight jerkiness that adds to a viewer's sense of inclusion.
Unfortunately this film won't screen in many theatres and rentals and sales will be the path to a wider audience. And this film merits a very big following.
- How long is Italian for Beginners?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Yeni başlayanlar için İtalyanca
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,544,753
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $66,047
- Jan 21, 2002
- Gross worldwide
- $16,350,876
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content