“When you come to the south you cry twice, when you arrive and when you leave.” – Mattia (Alessandro Siani), Benvenuti al Sud.
Tanti Auguri to Alessandro Siani, from Naples, who won our hearts as Mattia in the adorable comedy, Benvenuti al Sud (Welcome to the south.)
Benvenuti al Sud is a comedy that was remade from the French comedy ” Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” (Welcome to the Sticks) – and in this case “the sticks” are in the north of France and the desirable location is the south. But one country’s hang ups at a time – Italy is more like us in America. In Italy, as in the United States, the stereotypical “sticks” is more likely to be in the southern parts of the country.
When Alberto, played by Claudio Bisio, heads for his new job near Naples, because of the perceived crime, poverty and squalor he leaves his wife and son at home and tells them he’ll be back to visit every couple of weeks, but what he finds in his new home is not what he expected, of course, and his perceptions are challenged and changed.
He meets Mattia, a fellow postal worker played by Siani, who shows him that friendship doesn’t care, non gliene frega niente, about geography.
I Love Italian Everything 