Happy as Lazzaro (Lazzaro Felice, in the original) is practically an Italian fable that uses biblical characters to deliver an actual, very important message for our society. Cinema is not always just fun, entertainment – it is also a way of passing on ideals, as well as denouncing everyday situations that we often don’t even realize is happening. This is a movie that has a soul (watch here).
As you can see, the story of Happy as Lazzaro Netflix is more allegorical than literal. The main character, Lazzaro, is interpreted on point by a rookie named Adriano Tardiolo. Saving on facial expressions, he delivers a physical performance, giving his everything to pass an image of a guy who can be mistaken for stupid, but who holds in himself a kindness that no one can corrupt. Lazzaro is exploited by everyone, even the people he looks upon, like his family and a friend, who happen to be the son of the Marquise, named Tancredi. This one, which is interpreted by Luca Chikovani, also delivers a minimalistic, somewhat seductive performance, hiding his real intentions with a layer of charisma.
Kindness still exists
Awarded as the best screenplay at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Happy as Lazzaro is a tale about how goodness still exists, even though people see it as dumb or naive. Lazzaro likes to make other people happy, even if it doesn’t bring him any benefit, except seeing a smile on their faces.
This causes people to exploit the boy. We have a veiled battle between human wickedness and Lazzaro’s kind soul, and this is very well represented here. It is an art film, carefully constructed and, in the end, it lifts our spirits. A must-watch movie, at last.
You can also like Rajma Chawal, The Tribe, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Other Side of the Wind and Been So Long.
Synopsis 1: His innocent nature is a bit of magic in a bleack landscape. And his loyalty transcends the bounds of time.
Synopsis 2: Purehearted teen Lazzaro is content living as a sharecropper in rural Italy, but an unlikely friendship with the marquise’s son will change his world.
Age rating: 12;