Movies & Shows Like Divertimento for Surreal Comedy Fans

Description: A poetic and melancholic journey of a simple-minded woman and her brutish companion, exploring themes of loneliness and human connection. Its raw emotional power and minimalist storytelling align closely.

Fact: The film won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and is considered a cornerstone of Italian neorealism.

Description: A poignant character study of a resilient but vulnerable woman searching for love and meaning in a harsh world. Its blend of tragedy and hope mirrors a similar emotional complexity.

Fact: The film's ending was reshot after initial test audiences found the original too bleak.

Description: A surreal and introspective exploration of creativity, identity, and artistic struggle, blending dreamlike sequences with sharp social commentary. Its fragmented narrative and visual inventiveness mirror a similar experimental approach.

Fact: The title refers to the number of films director Federico Fellini had made up to that point (seven features and two shorts).

Description: An epic yet intimate portrait of a fading aristocracy during Italy's unification, rich in historical detail and emotional nuance. Its grandeur and introspective tone create a similarly immersive experience.

Fact: The film was originally released in a shortened version for international audiences, but the full-length restoration later became the definitive cut.

Description: A stark and unflinching depiction of a Sardinian shepherd's brutal upbringing and eventual liberation through education. Its raw realism and emotional intensity align with a similar narrative power.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and was shot entirely on location in Sardinia with non-professional actors.

Description: A magical realist war drama that blends childhood nostalgia with the horrors of conflict, told through a child's perspective. Its lyrical storytelling and bittersweet tone evoke a similar emotional richness.

Fact: The film was inspired by the directors' own childhood memories of World War II in Tuscany.

Description: A nostalgic and deeply emotional film that explores themes of memory, love, and the passage of time through the lens of cinema. Its lyrical storytelling and poignant character arcs resonate with a similar emotional depth.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was later re-released in a director's cut that added nearly an hour of footage.

Description: A bittersweet tale that balances humor and tragedy, using imagination and love as tools to survive adversity. Its emotional duality and heartfelt storytelling create a similarly powerful impact.

Fact: Roberto Benigni improvised many of the film's scenes, including the famous bicycle ride with his son.

Description: A visually sumptuous meditation on art, decadence, and existential longing, set against the backdrop of Rome. Its lush cinematography and philosophical musings evoke a similar contemplative mood.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was heavily influenced by Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita.'

Description: A hauntingly beautiful story of a Jewish family's privileged but doomed existence during the rise of fascism. Its elegiac tone and focus on memory and loss resonate deeply.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was based on a semi-autobiographical novel.