'Bravissimo' captures heart and humor while critiquing pressures on child performers

Giancarlo Zarfati and Alberto Sordi in a scene from "Bravissimo"

An early film in the commedia all’italiana genre, "Bravissimo" (1955) is a classic Italian comedy directed by Luigi Filippo D'Amico, starring Alberto Sordi. The film blends satire with heartfelt moments, offering a critique of the entertainment industry and the exploitation of child prodigies.

Ubaldo Impallato (Sordi) is a substitute elementary teacher who supplements his income by running tutoring program. Among his students is six-year-old Gigetto, who possesses an extraordinary baritone voice. When Ubaldo overhears Gigetto singing The Barber of Seville, he recognizes the child's rare talent and decides to guide him toward a career in music. Gigetto becomes famous for his performances, but his relatives try to take advantage of him. Ubaldo must find a way to keep Gigetto safe while also chasing his own dreams.

Alberto Sordi in scene from "Bravissimo"

Set in a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Rome, the film begins with Ubaldo pleading for a full-time job at the school where he is a substitute teacher. After hearing that one of the teachers is home with a temperature, he makes a case for why he should teach that class, only to be interrupted by the teacher who shows up saying that he has never missed a day of work. Ubaldo returns home to find the parents waiting for him with their children participating in the tutoring program. Afterward, when all of the parents have come to take their kids home, he notices Gigetto is left behind. Shortly thereafter, a police officer shows up, informing Ubaldo that the boy’s father has been incarcerated. When Ubaldo tries to hand over Gigetto, the officer does not agree to take him. So, Ubaldo is left to care for Gigetto. He wants no part of this huge responsibility, so he searches tirelessly for the boy’s family members, who don’t want the responsibility of caring for him either. That evening, he witnesses the boy singing opera. Suddenly, Ubaldo’s attitude changes because he realizes he can make money as Gigetto’s coach and agent. “Call me Uncle Ubaldo. Are you fond of me? I love you so much!” And so it begins. Ubaldo embraces his new role in this child’s life and the chance for his life to finally have a purpose.

Sordi's portrayal of Ubaldo Impallato showcases his signature comedic style of a down on his luck guy just trying to make a buck. Sordi was 35 years old when he made the film and was just beginning to come into his own with his signature over-the-top chameleon character, who borders a sleazy con artist. Still, as much as you want to despise him, Sordi gives these characters an empathetic quality that makes it difficult to root against them.

A scene from "Bravissimo" at the Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica

Most of the film was shot at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, including the school where Ubaldo teaches. Another notable location is the Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica. Not very far from Cinecittà Studios, it was a popular outdoor location for directors during the '50s and '60s along with the nearby Parco degli Acquedotti. Both locations are known for their ancient aqueducts that date as far back as 144 BC. In the scene, Ubaldo conducts a lesson near the Acquedotto dei Quintilii, highlighting the ruins to his students.

"Kids, right here where the sun magnificently sets, we can see the ruins of Claudius's aqueduct," as he guides them toward the majestic ancient Roman ruins. A minute later, he is having the kids dig up dandelion greens that he will later use for an omelet. "See this tiny plant," he asks the children. "It's cicoria. It's edible."

After enjoying some short-lived success and basking in the envy of all those in the community who formerly shunned him, Ubaldo’s ill intentions catch up with him after the boy runs away, catches pneumonia, and undergoes a medical procedure. However, his efforts aren’t in vain, as the school finally sees his value.

As entertaining as the film is, it has serious undertones and has remained relevant some 70 years later, delving into the world of child performers and the adults who coach them. With the emergence of social media, the issue has only become more prevalent in our society. “Bravissimo” offers insight into the toll it can take on the child as well as the motivation of the adults.

Click here to stream “Bravissimo” on Amazon Prime Video.

-Written by Jeannine Guilyard for the July 2025 issue of Fra Noi Magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Comments

"Roma 11:00" – The Tragic True Story of Desperation in a World of Poverty

There couldn’t have been a more perfect couple than Lucia Bosè and Raf Vallone in Giuseppe De Santis’ 1952 “Roma 11:00.” A tragic story based on true events, the film follows several young women in post-WWII Rome as they answer a job listing for a typist. When 200 women are in line on one staircase over several floors, a crack leads to the collapse of the entire staircase. Dozens were injured and one was killed. The tragedy spoke to the poverty and desperation that existed for so many Italians in the early 1950s before the ‘58 industrial boom began. Cesare Zavattini was one of the screenwriters. Elio Petri was the assistant director who interviewed many of the victims and cast a few in supporting roles. In addition to Bosè and Vallone, the film stars Carla Del Poggio, Massimo Girotti, Maria Grazia Francia, Lea Padovani and Delia Scala. The film is set in Largo Circense 37, while in reality the collapse took place in via Savoia 31, in the Salario district, on J...

The Timeless Talent of Stefania Sandrelli

On screen since the tender age of 14, she has captivated audiences for more than 50 years with a compelling combination of strength and vulnerability. She achieved stardom at just 14 years old playing the angelic cousin of a love-struck Marcello Mastroianni in Pietro Germi’s “Divorce Italian Style.” More than half a century later, she is still going strong and remains one of Italy’s most esteemed actors. Stefania Sandrelli was born on June 5, 1946, in Viareggio in the province of Lucca in northern Italy. As a child, she studied music and dance. Then in 1960, she won a beauty pageant and was featured on the cover of Le Ore magazine. Her purity captivated the country and shortly thereafter, movie offers began pouring in. Just one year later, she made her cinema debut in three feature films: Mario Sequi’s Gioventù di notte , Luciano Salce’s The Fascist, and Pietro Germi’s Divorce Italian Style . She instantly became a star and before long was a key figure in Italy’s legend...

'Salvatore Giuliano' blends documentary realism with dramatic storytelling

"Salvatore Giuliano" is a 1962 Italian crime drama directed by Francesco Rosi that dramatizes the real-life events surrounding the life and death of the legendary Sicilian bandit and folk hero. Giuliano rose to notoriety after the liberation of Sicily from fascist control in 1943, when he formed a gang that joined a separatist army. When the army dissolved, he and his gang intensified their outlaw activities. One of their most significant crimes was the Portella della Ginestra incident, during which dozens of men, women, and children were killed or wounded. This act prompted the authorities to launch an all-out war against Giuliano. His defenses slowly crumbled, and on July 5, 1959, his body was discovered in the courtyard of a house in Castelvetrano. That moment serves as the starting point for Rosi's film. Giuliano's fame is tied to his involvement in the Sicilian independence movement and his battles against both the Italian government and the Mafia in the 1940s a...

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Gianfranco Rosi to premiere 'Sotto le nuvole' at Venice Film Fest, exploring Naples' history

Documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi will premiere his much-anticipated latest film at the upcoming 82nd Venice International Film Festival , which runs August 27 - Sept. 6. "Sotto le nuvole" (Below the Clouds) takes a deep dive into the rich history and culture of Naples and the area surrounding Mount Vesuvius. There has not been much information revealed but so far, we know that the film will focus on themes similar to those explored by Rosi in his previous works, such as the examination of Roman culture in "Sacro GRA" (2013) and Lampedusa's refugee crisis in "Fuocoammare" (2016). The film's synopsis reads, “The land around Vesuvius is a vast palimpsest. On the surface, underground and even beneath the sea of the modern city of Naples and its surroundings, the memory of history is etched into tunnels, walls and fissures, the remains of women, children and men — statues, buried cities. Only thin layers separate contemporary and ancient life, an...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog