My yesterday's late night saviour.
I chose to see this film instead of falling in my sleepy Sunday dream.. and I do not regret it AT ALL!
Sometimes, one film saves you from another. That was the case for me with Enrico Piaggio: Un sogno italiano (An Italian dream).
I watched it right after a 2001 French vintage movie that I’d rather forget, and it felt like a true saviour. Even though it was well past midnight (which is late for me), I didn’t feel sleepy for a single moment. I was watching with my 100% attention from start to finish. (and paused it the moments when my cat was scratching me 😅)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8885658/
The Story
Pontedera, Tuscany, 1945. With his factory in ruins, Enrico Piaggio, founder Rinaldo Piaggio's son, knows he must protect his employees' jobs and the company's future. As a result, an ambitious dream inspires Piaggio to create an affordable, agile means of transportation to help rebuild the country's former glory. But the road to success is fraught with obstacles. As corrupt plutocrats set their sights on making the Italian visionary fail, Piaggio enlists the help of innovative aeronautical engineer Corradino d'Ascianio to produce the original Vespa: Italy's stylish symbol of rebirth. After all, fortune favours the bold. And when Enrico Piaggio learns that the American filmmaker William Wyler is about to shoot Roman Holiday (1953) in Italy, Piaggio's team comes up with the 1946 Vespa 98/1, marking the birth of a legend.
—Nick Riganas
In short, the movie tells the story of Enrico Piaggio, the visionary behind the iconic Vespa. Facing a post-war Italy in ruins, he dared to dream of creating something new, stylish, and practical that would not only transform mobility but also shape a cultural symbol.
Performances & Style
The cast delivers impeccable performances, down to the tiniest details. As an Italian film produced and shot in Italy, it has that distinct finesse, elegance in style, atmospheric photography, and the stunning colors.
You really feel as if you’re there, living alongside those characters, experiencing the Italian dream.
A Visionary at Work
What inspired me most was Enrico himself. He was a brave, capable, and clever man who created something out of nothing but vision and determination. I truly hope he found happiness in his personal life as the film suggests. His courage and belief in innovation were contagious, even through the screen. I was really motivated and I understand that there are not so many people thinking in such an innovative way. Enrico was seeing with the eyes of his mind and heart, he could know what he wanted even he could not really express it and he had the power to find the right people and to make it happen, even if a million of difficulties (from the war, to a strike, to a vicious spy) almost made it impossible.
Vespa Love
Now, about the Vespa itself: I’ve always admired it. I’ve never ridden a motorbike (and perhaps now it’s too late to start), but the Vespa has always stood out to me. It’s more than a scooter; it’s elegance, charm, and pure Italian style on two wheels.
Interestingly, Vespa also left its mark on Greek cinema. In some classic black-and-white films, the scooter made appearances that became iconic. One of my favorite moments is from the late comic actor Thanasis Veggos. In the scene, he’s on a Vespa that won’t stop, and he keeps asking a car driver: “Ξέρεις από Βέσπα;” (“Do you know Vespa?”). The driver thinks Veggos is mocking him, but when they both end up on a hill, Veggos explains: “I was asking you because I couldn’t stop it!” The funniest part? He wasn’t even driving a real Vespa!
You can see that part here:
Final Thoughts
Overall, Enrico Piaggio: Un sogno italiano is a wonderful film. Inspiring, stylish, and very Italian. (of course it is in Italian language, so a good opportunity to practice it, hahaha)
IMDb gives it a 6.9/10, and I would agree… maybe even a 7+.
If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it.
Have you watched it? Or do you plan to?