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Lamerica

  • 1994
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Carmelo Di Mazzarelli and Enrico Lo Verso in Lamerica (1994)
Psychological DramaComedyDrama

Immediately after the fall of communism in Albania, two Italians go there to embezzle investment money by creating a fake company. As the chairman/fall guy, they pick a former political pris... Read allImmediately after the fall of communism in Albania, two Italians go there to embezzle investment money by creating a fake company. As the chairman/fall guy, they pick a former political prisoner who turns out to be more than meets the eye.Immediately after the fall of communism in Albania, two Italians go there to embezzle investment money by creating a fake company. As the chairman/fall guy, they pick a former political prisoner who turns out to be more than meets the eye.

  • Director
    • Gianni Amelio
  • Writers
    • Gianni Amelio
    • Andrea Porporati
    • Alessandro Sermoneta
  • Stars
    • Enrico Lo Verso
    • Michele Placido
    • Piro Milkani
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    2.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gianni Amelio
    • Writers
      • Gianni Amelio
      • Andrea Porporati
      • Alessandro Sermoneta
    • Stars
      • Enrico Lo Verso
      • Michele Placido
      • Piro Milkani
    • 14User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 21 wins & 18 nominations total

    Photos28

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    Top cast32

    Edit
    Enrico Lo Verso
    Enrico Lo Verso
    • Gino
    Michele Placido
    Michele Placido
    • Fiore
    Piro Milkani
    Piro Milkani
    • Selimi
    Carmelo Di Mazzarelli
    • Spiro (alias Michele Talarico)
    Elida Janushi
    • Selimi's Cousin
    Sefer Pema
    • Prison Governor
    Idajet Sejdia
    • Dr. Kruja
    Marieta Ljarja
    • Factory's manager
    Elina Ndreu
    • Singer in night club
    Ilir Ara
    • Orphanage's guard
    Liliana Subashi
    • Hospital's doctor
    Artan Marina
    • Ismail
    Vasjan Lami
    • Cop at cafe
    • (as Vassjan Lammi)
    Nikolin Elezi
    • Man dying
    Fatmir Gjyla
    • Innkeeper
    Elona Hoti
    • Little girl dancing
    Besim Kurti
    • Interrogator
    Esmeralda Ara
    • Girl teaching italian
    • Director
      • Gianni Amelio
    • Writers
      • Gianni Amelio
      • Andrea Porporati
      • Alessandro Sermoneta
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    7.42.4K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    RaquelitaP

    wonderful acting by Enrico LoVerso

    This Italian film is actually set behind the fall of dictatorship in Albania, a country once part of Soviet rule.

    LoVerso's part in the movie as one of the protagonists is wonderfully acted. The first film I had seen him in was Il Ladro di Bambini. LoVerso takes his characters and challenges them, creating deep personalities that continue to develop throughout the film.

    I would recommend this film solely based on the wonderful acting by all actors in the film.
    10FilmCriticLalitRao

    Italian director Gianni Amelio creates a humane story by depicting the fall of communist party ruled nation called Albania.

    Italian director Gianni Amelio is a true filmmaker who is absolutely committed to his art.It is this serious as well as loyal commitment to the real cause of cinema which has led him to make a unique place for himself as a filmmaker whose stories are rooted in culture and civilizations in which they take place.Whether it is Albania or China,films by director Gianni Amelio always make a lot of sense as they never neglect the local stories for reaching the global audiences.The scale on which Gianni Amelio shoots his films is grand.'Lamerica' is an enduring proof of the grandeur of his vision.In this film,he depicts the mean nature of some human beings for whom the other persons'sufferings are a source of personal aggrandizement.There is also a lot of authenticity as Lamerica is based on the real story about the collapse of Albania after the end of a very long communist rule.How an affluent culture is blindly followed by a less fortunate culture has also been vividly described in Lamerica. This is exactly an element which makes the whole story palatable to audiences' tastes.
    10eceku

    a true picture of post-socialist Albania

    I just finished watching this film and it brought back to me memories of my life in Albania. the film is very precise in it's description of life in our poor land after the riots and the exoduses that occurred in the early '90s. I was lucky myself not to have gone through what most people go through during this film but I can identify with some of it. even though the film focuses more on the italian businessman, the struggle for survival that most Albanians had to go and still have to is quite clear. this film should be watched by all interested in understanding why people have to abandon their homelands. this is a perfect example and should open eyes to many.
    10EdF135

    Return of neo-realism?

    I thought this was an incredible film with a story that was in many ways simple, yet complex in dealing with redemption. An Italian swindler goes to Albania to make a few quick lire, only to get swallowed up by the depth of the Albanian situation.
    orbanei

    Movie/Documentary

    Amelio stile of directing amazes me everytime more and more. A powerful movie, being very realistic and documentary. Once again, Enrico Lo Verso acting and leading the movie is great. This movie was filmed few years after the government was overthrown and I consider AMelio to be brave with this theme and from my understanding he reflected what happened in a realistic way.

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    Related interests

    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.
    • Quotes

      Selimi: Sorry, no water today. Today holiday. Maybe tomorrow.

    • Connections
      References Paisan (1946)
    • Soundtracks
      Rosamunda
      Written by Nicola Salerno (as Nisa) and Jaromir Vejvoda (as Vojavoda)

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Lamerica?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 1995 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
      • Switzerland
      • Austria
    • Languages
      • German
      • Albanian
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Amèrica
    • Filming locations
      • Durres, Albania
    • Production companies
      • Alia Film
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
      • Arena Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $438,483
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,788,331
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 56m(116 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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