Benvenuti al sud

I consider this comedy even better than the original "Bienvens Chez les Ch'tis". But, in order to totally grasp the humour of this movie, you have to watch it in Italian and know the antagonism between the north of Italy and the south. This is so overwhelming funny and respects the cultural identity of the Italian people.

I absolutely enjoyed it.

As another person already remarked this is a remake of another french movie that I have viewed and liked it very much. Both are as good because send a strong message against prejudice and the aim in my opinion is well achieved. I think both deserve to be seen because apart from the hilarious script which made me laugh from beginning to end, it's at moments touching and in others so true that one wouldn't doubt a second this could have even been a real story.

I have seen it in Italian and although I know it's translated also in other languages (i.e. German) I can't imagine whether the movie translated makes laugh as the Italian version.

Welcome to the South The final installment of the Metro-Detroit Italian Film Festival (2012) featured director Luca Minero's Benvenuti al sud, Welcome to the South (2011). The venue of Royal Oak's new Emagine Theatre was filled to capacity and resulted in the always unfortunate scenario of turning away hundreds of would be patrons. The film begins with Alberto Colombo (Claudio Bisso) as a civil servant of the Italian-Postale. Alberto has been passed up for promotion to a coveted Milan position and following a comical yet ill-fated attempt to secure another such opening is assigned to two years postale purgatory in Italy's southern region. Alberto's wife Silvia (Angela Finocchiaro) chooses to remain in the civilized north while Alberto is subjected to his penance. The ensuing journey is a farcical romp through social stereotypes and false assumptions which leads Alberto to re-evaluate his own system of beliefs. Steeped in Italian cinemas rich history of neo-realism and romanticism it seems that amore' is the parallel undercurrent to the film. Love reigns supreme beneath the comical veneer, as southern mama's boy Mattia Volpe (Alessandro Siani) garners courage to express his affections for local bellissima Maria (Valentina Lodovini). Alberto and Silvia teeter on the brink of their faltering relationship and her brave trip to the south will either break them or change them forever. A wonderful introspective on pre-conceived notions that prove false wrong when people understand one another combined with breathtaking scenery of Italy's southern coastal regions make this a film for all the world to enjoy. The sequel Welcome to the North (2012) should prove to be equally entertaining as the noteworthy cast of Alberto's friends invade the northern regions. Caio!

It is many years ago I haven't seen such a funny comedy from Italy. In fact it's a perfect copy of the french blockbuster "Bienvenu Chez Les Ch'tis". Both versions had a great success in Italy respectively in France.

I recommend to see each one of them. "Benvenuti al Sud" I liked even much more what confirms the previous reviews here. There are many special situations with their Italian people's hot temperament from Naple.

Just see it and you will spend no doubt a very entertaining time.

Rating: 7/10.

This movie is a remake of a French movie: "Bienvenue chez les ch'tis" which is the higher French box office of all times and it is even better than the original. I fluently speak French,I saw, understood and liked the original one but I loved this one better, maybe because I can understand better the difference of mentality between southern and northern Italian people (I'm Italian myself). Both movies are really funny and positive. It should be interesting an American remake. The idea could be: let's send a white racist man to work in a black neighbour and make him understand how much black people can be nice, funny and friendly. The story: a racist guy from Milan (north Italy) is transfered from a post office in Milan to another one in a little southern city and after many funny situations he falls in love for this new place (I don't want to spoil more). I suggest to every Italian moviegoer to watch this little great movie, maybe it will not change your way to think but for sure it will make you laughing.