«Magic Neo-Realism». La circolazione internazionale dell’italianità attraverso un brand d’autore. Lazzaro felice sulla stampa americana

The essay aims at analyzing a web of transnational discourses surrounding the circulation of Italian cinema abroad on the one side and the construction of the public image of directors relative to the concept of Italianness on the other. The case study taken into consideration is that of Alice Rohrwacher in the United States, specifically focusing on her movie Happy as Lazzaro (2018). The essay will mostly focus on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the critical reception of the movie by taking into consideration the 15 top-selling newspapers in the U.S. as well as relevant trade and cultural magazines. By proposing an integrated methodological approach – between reception studies, film studies and cultural studies – the essays aim at analyzing the construction of Alice Rohrwacher’s public image to reflect on the various ways in which contemporary Italian directors can still their author’s brand by bringing back elements of “Made in Italy”. Lastly, the essay will try to trace those same elements that favored the movie’s recognition and its international distribution.