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Learning Italian...good Italian TV shows/films to help?

22 replies

shadypines · 01/01/2025 14:30

Hi, can anyone recommend any Italian TV available on You Tube that they have found useful in order to pick up the language?
I am fine for online actual tutorials but wanted something authentically Italian that just flowed with conversation. Thanks.

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LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 01/01/2025 14:43

Buongiorno shady, ti consiglio ‘La Legge di Lidia Poet’ su(?) Netflix.
There aren’t too many episodes so far, perhaps 14 over two seasons. I watch them the first time with English subtitles, then the aim is once more with Italian subtitles and a third time without. You can also watch it at 75% speed if necessary. It’s a great story about Italy’s first woman lawyer and the battles she faced, but obviously it takes huge liberties in the name of entertainment.
The biggest pity is that Netflix doesn’t support two subtitles at once - that would be great.
I keep on getting ads on Youtube for a service that presents Italian TV shows with synced subtitles that connects to an English dictionary, but I can’t remember the name of it offhand.

tinydynamine · 01/01/2025 14:45

Following the model of Easy German etc., there is probably Easy Italian. Basically street interviews on various topics, English and Italian subtitles.

DisforDarkChocolate · 01/01/2025 14:46

Inspector Montalbano?

humblebraggadocio · 01/01/2025 17:06

Maybe try some Roberto Benigni films? Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella) is worth a watch.

shadypines · 01/01/2025 18:32

Grazie tutti...thank you everyone, I will check these out. I have seen one episode of Montalbano actually and quite enjoyed.

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DisforDarkChocolate · 01/01/2025 18:37

There is also a Young Montalbano is the older version is not to your taste.

shadypines · 01/01/2025 18:50

Thank you DisforDarkchocolate.

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GingerLiberalFeminist · 01/01/2025 18:51

La luna nera on Netflix- really helpful as they spoke quiet slowly as it's medieval set.

I used a lot of Montalbano, which used to be on BBC but isn't any more :*( Watch out for Sicillian words though!

Gatecrashermum · 01/01/2025 19:04

Montalbano is tricky actually, not just because the Sicilian accent is so strong but there's a lot of dialect. The sergeant apparently talks a lot of nonsense in sicilian which is translated well but not exactly (think using different saying e.g. the early bird catches the worm)

But it's great tv!

I'm following looking for advice on learning Italian- if anyone can recommend online resources please let me know

Gatecrashermum · 01/01/2025 19:05

Lidia Poet is very good, lots of naked tits though (how italian)

When I've been in Italy I've loved watching the game shows, I should try and find out how to do that from here

LadyWhitwell · 01/01/2025 19:10

My Brilliant Friend

RedRosie · 01/01/2025 19:16

For something more basic, try QVC Italia! They employ people who speak beautiful Italian, and there is a lot of repetition as they are trying to sell you stuff. Freely available on YouTube.

Also SBS (Australian broadcaster) has a channel SBS Italia. That's an amazing resource if still available, news in Italian with transcripts and translations. Again, free on the Internet.

Ukisgaslit · 01/01/2025 19:30

OP what about changing the audio to Italian on shows you already know well ?
You could have audio and /or subtitles in Italian
I watched Suburra on Netflix in Italian with English subtitles - set in Rome and Ostia ( I think). You could watch in English but with Italian subtitles . Streaming is a boon for language learning

APurpleSquirrel · 01/01/2025 19:51

If you search for Italy on Netflix it will bring up Italian shows like PPs have suggested - Lydia Poet & Luna Nera - both very good!
Duolingo is good too at helping with vocab though some sentences are... odd!

Learning Italian...good Italian TV shows/films to help?
APurpleSquirrel · 01/01/2025 19:53

Oh & podcasts! Lots of ones helping with learning the language, so listening to conversations etc. Plus ones in actual Italian.

Sgtmajormummy · 01/01/2025 20:25

Why not try a film you already know and like in English and listen to it dubbed AND subtitled in Italian? Richard Curtis films spring to mind. Films are normally dubbed inro standard Italian so you’re not hearing local dialects.
I watched Suburra recently in Italian and with 30 years’ language experience I was pretty lost!

babbi · 01/01/2025 20:32

Il Processo on Netflix is great ..

shadypines · 01/01/2025 21:32

Wow there are some amazing suggestions...now where to start!

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EmpressaurusKitty · 01/01/2025 21:37

tinydynamine · 01/01/2025 14:45

Following the model of Easy German etc., there is probably Easy Italian. Basically street interviews on various topics, English and Italian subtitles.

There is Easy Italian!

Sgtmajormummy · 02/01/2025 08:32

Search for Italian films with the actress Paola Cortellesi.
She has made a variety of films from comedy to serious and she speaks clearly and slowly. Her most recent film, acting and directing, is about domestic violence and has received very good reviews.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paola_Cortellesi

Paola Cortellesi - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paola_Cortellesi

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 02/01/2025 08:42

tinydynamine · 01/01/2025 14:45

Following the model of Easy German etc., there is probably Easy Italian. Basically street interviews on various topics, English and Italian subtitles.

Easy Italian is indeed excellent. I’ve found the episodes on words like ‘quindi’ and ‘magari’ most useful, but the thematic street interviews are great too. You can watch them at full speed or slower, and there are parallel subtitles to use or ignore. I joined for a few months to download the back catalogue of exercises, but tbh I didn’t find them as helpful as the free YT episodes.

shadypines · 02/01/2025 19:05

I will def look at Easy Italian LadyGreySpillstheTea and tinydynamine, words like 'quindi', 'allora' so on, that are used a lot by Italians are the ones I find hardest to remember, strange as it sounds!

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