Caterina in the Big City (2003)
86%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 9 nominations
Caterina in the Big City is a delightful and charming Italian coming-of-age film that manages to balance political allegory with adolescent drama. The film’s well-crafted characters, particularly Giancarlo, played brilliantly by Castellitto, provide a constant source of humor and embarrassment. The film’s juggling of multiple characters is done with skill, and the realness on screen translates to any culture. While some may find the film sloppy or odd, it’s on to something truly wonderful, suffused with wit and warmth. Overall, Caterina in the Big City is a layered and intelligent film that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Caterina in the Big City is like a spicy meatball of a movie – it’s got layers, it’s well-crafted, and it’s a little bit messy. But that’s what makes it so delicious! This Italian coming-of-age tale is full of humor, heart, and a cast of characters that will make you want to shout “Mamma Mia!” Giancarlo, played by the manic and volcanic Castellitto, steals the show with his humor and embarrassment. It’s Mean Girls meets political allegory, and it’s a dish you won’t want to miss.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros.,
Distributor
Empire Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 46m
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Language(s):
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Country of origin:Italy
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 2003 Original
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Caterina in the Big City, Comedy, Drama, 1h 46m, starring Alice Teghil, Sergio Castellitto, Margherita Buy, Carolina Iaquaniello, Federica Sbrenna, directed by Paolo Virzì, written by Paolo Virzì, Francesco Bruni, box office gross $293.3K, reviewed by Eleanor Ringel Cater, John Monaghan, Keith Phipps, Mario Tarradell, Michael Wilmington, Rene Rodriguez, Lee Marshall, David Noh, Chelsea Bain, genre, Italian language, coming-of-age story, political allegory, leftists, rightists, high school, parents, novel, satire, Italy’s political climate, teenager, friendship, Italian politics, society
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Sergio Castellitto – Giancarlo Iacovoni
Margherita Buy – Agata Iacovoni
Carolina Iaquaniello – Margherita Rossi Chaillet
Federica Sbrenna – Daniela Germano
Claudio Amendola – Manlio Germano
Director(s)
Paolo Virzì
Writer(s)
Paolo Virzì, Francesco Bruni
Producer(s)
Paolo Virzì
Film Festivals
Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (4)
On the surface, Caterina in the Big City is like Mean Girls, Italian-style. But it’s much more layered than that.
November 3, 2005 | Rating: B+
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Caterina in the City is a coming-of-age story, of course, but its adult characters are also well rendered.
October 7, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Its juxtaposition of coming-of-age story and political allegory seldom feels belabored.
September 26, 2005
Keith Phipps
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
It’s an adolescent-to-adult drama that never veers into maudlin or sugary territory. There’s a realness on screen that translates to any culture.
September 22, 2005 | Rating: B
Mario Tarradell
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Though Caterina is unusually well-acted and crafted for this kind of movie … Giancarlo is the one character who makes the movie special.
September 8, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Played in a manic, volcanic manner by Castellitto, Giancarlo is a constant source of humor and embarrassment.
August 26, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Juggles six major and more than a dozen minor characters with some skill.
February 28, 2021
Lee Marshall
Screen International
A truly wonderful coming-of-age tale, suffused with wit and warmth.
March 1, 2007
David Noh
Film Journal International
October 21, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Chelsea Bain
Boston Herald
The Italian Caterina in the Big City is sloppy, but it’s on to something.
October 7, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4
Chris Hewitt
St. Paul Pioneer Press
An odd, and oddly dishonest bird.
September 24, 2005
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan
Caterina faces challenges in this coming-of-age movie, but nothing earth-shattering or exceptional.
September 23, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com…
Plot
When her father, Giancarlo is transferred to Rome from the small country town of Montalto Di Castro, Caterina, a 12 years old girl, will discover her new classmates, a totally new world, an ambient extremely divided politically. She starts developing her friendship with the “left side”, represented by Margherita, and the right, Daniela, side of her class. She will lose herself, without knowing who she really is. However, maybe Edward, the young Australian boy, who lives in the apartment across hers, can help her more that she thinks.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sergio Castellitto’s character, Giancarlo, is described as a “constant source of humor and embarrassment” by one critic.
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