A journey back in time in a surreal setting, a satirical and comic historical play on Italian Renaissance myths.
Nothing Left to Do but Cry was filmed in 1984 and has since become a cult classic. Starring and directed by Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful) and Massimo Troisi (The Postman), it holds a special place in the hearts of Italians. In fact, some of the film’s lines have become part of common language. The film tells the story of a leap back in time, where the main characters attempt to change the future.
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Roberto Benigni (Saverio), Massimo Troisi (Mario), Amanda Sandrelli (Pia)
Directed by: Roberto Benigni, Massimo Troisi.
Nothing Left to Do but Cry: plot
While traveling through the Tuscan countryside, two friends, Saverio (a Tuscan) and Mario (a Neapolitan), find themselves inexplicably thrown 500 years back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus. Dismayed, they discover they are in Frittole (a fictional Tuscan town) in 1492. After initial bewilderment and fear, the more enterprising Saverio is the first to adapt to the new reality, giving up the idea of returning to the present time and adopting the persona of a 15th-century man, exploring and making acquaintances. Mario, shy and embarrassed, struggles to adjust but soon finds solace: during a church service, he meets Pia and falls in love. Coming from the future and mistaken for an artist, Mario courts Pia by singing modern hits like the Beatles’ Yesterday and Domenico Modugno’s Volare. The film is a series of farcical adventures that culminate in the main characters meeting Leonardo da Vinci, attempting to explain modern inventions like the thermometer, traffic lights, and the train, with disastrous results. With its open ending, Nothing Left to Do but Cry offers moments of surreal comedy and “profound frivolity,” using the time jump as a pretext for reflection on the present and past eras.
Nothing Left to Do but Cry: movie locations
The film is set in Tuscany but was mostly filmed in the Lazio countryside. The opening scenes were shot near Lake Bracciano. Frittole was recreated in the Cinecittà studios in Rome. The encounter with Pia takes place in the sanctuary of Santa Maria in Celsano, a beautiful church in Rome. When Mario and Saverio are stopped by the toll collector, they are in Borgo di Rota (in the municipality of Tolfa, province of Rome). The scenes with Leonardo were filmed at Lake Pellicone in the Vulci Archaeological Park (province of Viterbo). Finally, the protagonists’ arrival in Palos, attempting to stop Columbus from sailing with the caravels, was filmed at Cala di Forno in Tuscany, in the heart of the Maremma Natural Park.
Nothing Left to Do but Cry: for learning Italian
Would a foreigner who wants to watch this film understand it? Absolutely! The interest of this movie relies on the stereotypes of Italian culture and our ability to be sarcastic about our own history. No need to know Tuscan or Neapolitan expressions: Troisi and Benigni speak with their bodies and facial expressions. Nothing Left to Do but Cry relies on the artistic and communicative abilities of the two protagonists, with lines still quoted today. Here are some examples:
-Mario sta alla finestra e guarda quello che succede fuori. Un predicatore si rivolge a lui:
Predicatore: “Ricordati che devi morire!”
Mario: “Come?”
Predicatore: “Ricordati… che devi morire! “
Mario: “Va bene… “
Predicatore: “Ricordati che devi morire! “
Mario:” Sì, sì…. mo’ me lo segno…”
-Mario is at the window watching what happens outside. A preacher addresses him:
Preacher: “Remember that you must die!”
Mario: “What?”
Preacher: “Remember… you must die!”
Mario: “Okay…”
Preacher: “Remember that you must die!”
Mario: “Yes, yes… I’ll write it down…”
-Mario e Saverio incrociano Leonardo da Vinci e si preparano a conoscerlo:
Saverio: “Dobbiamo far capire di essere due scienziati, dobbiamo dire cose intelligenti, capito?”
Mario: “Ma 9×9 farà 81?”
Saverio: “Nell’arancia c’è la vitamina C…”
–Mario and Saverio encounter Leonardo da Vinci and prepare to meet him:
Saverio: “We have to show we’re scientists, we have to say intelligent things, got it?”
Mario: “But does 9×9 make 81?”
Saverio: “There’s vitamin C in an orange…”
Below you will find the video of a scene from the film. It’s subtitled in English, but as you will see, knowing Italian well is not necessary to understand. Here, the body language of these two exceptional actors speaks volumes. Enjoy watching… and most importantly, have fun!
