Name: Un'australiana a Roma
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 1 h 38 min
Rating: 4.6
Cast: Massimo Ciavarro, Nicole Kidman, Lara Wendel

Obscure Italian telemovie about a pair of female Australian tourists (Kidman and Wendel) whose sidecar breaks down affording them the opportunity to tour Rome with local Good Samaritan (Ciavarro) who later becomes Jill's (Kidman) love interest. But just as the smitten couple are becoming inseparable, fate intervenes and Jill finds herself staying with her beau's snobbish, aristocratic mother (stern looking Argentine actress Zinny) where she meets his brother (Grabau) and the story evolves into a love triangle which could've inspired 'While You Were Sleeping' many years later.

Whilst it's a modestly made soap opera lacking much plot substance, there remain a handful of reasons to potentially tune in.

Lara Wendel is the first excuse playing the more outgoing of the pair (Susan), Lara is the daughter of US former NFL player turned actor Walter Barnes who featured in a number of Italian movies before resettling into US mainstream cinema in the 70s. Lara herself had a memorable Italian horror genre career in such flicks as 'Tenebrae' and 'Zombi 5'. Her role here diminishes after the first 30 mins, but she returns sporadically for those who enjoy her work.

Secondly it's directed by Sergio Martino. If you're a giallo or Italian exploitation film fan, that name is huge and needs no introduction. Just what he's doing making this melodramatic little TV matinee is pure speculation, but his credit alone will be a sight for some sore eyes.

A third more indirect reason to consider pulling up a chair is the beguiling Lorraine De Selle who co-wrote this inoffensive romcom /tragedy. Lorraine is also well-known to Italian exploitation cinema fans, and has the distinction of appearing in some of the most notorious shockers of that halcyon era including a couple of the much maligned so-called 'video nasties'. Like Martino's presence, her connection with this film initially seems unusual until you discover that Lorraine was born to an Australian mother (in Italy) and had resided in Australia from around 1968 until 1975 - I'm only a little disappointed she didn't also appear in this film; whilst Zinny is effective as the rigid, elitist mother, it's a character De Selle could've easily played too .

Fourthly is Roma! Whilst the movie explores some deeper themes (tiptoeing the fine line between comedy and tragedy), the first and second acts are an unabashed tourist promotion for Rome as the girls & guys see the sights and experience everything which the capital has to offer.

And finally if none of the aforementioned reasons appeal to you, then you might want to take a peek just to see Kidman back when she was a fresh-faced, photogenic teenager from Down Under, pre-'Dead Calm', confidently displaying her acting range in an outright leading role. Buona visione.

Italian cinema has deeply influenced world cinema through its socially conscious realism and modernist experimentation, but it also flourished in popular genres like peplum (sword & sandal), giallo thrillers, and broad comedies. Its narratives often weave together politics, contemporary social change, class consciousness, and family dynamics, balancing artistic ambition with entertainment that resonated widely.

Lamberto Maggiorani in Bicycle Thieves (1948)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The arrival in Rome of two Australian tourists, Jill and Susan, who will discover the hidden beauties of the eternal city thanks to a bold young Capitoline Pierluigi who will guide them.

Nicole Kidman in Un'australiana a Roma (1987)

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Un'australiana a Roma

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