Where Food Meets Film: Celebrating the end of semester at ILC

At ILC Brisbane, learning Italian goes well beyond grammar and vocabulary.

Our end-of semester Italian Movie and Pizza Night is one of those traditions that brings together two pillars of Italian culture – food and cinema – in a relaxed, communal setting that mirrors how Italians experience everyday life.

The Food-Movie Connection in Italian Culture

In Italy, food is never just fuel. It is conversation, ritual, and identity. Similarly, Italian cinema has long explored the table as a stage for human connection, conflict, and revelation.

From the family reunions around the table like in La Famiglia or Parenti Serpenti to the kitchen scenes in Pranzo di Ferragosto, meals on screen reflect the same values Italians bring to their own tables: togetherness, honesty, and pleasure.

At ILC, we use this natural pairing to deepen cultural understanding.

Sharing food while watching a film in Italian creates an immersive experience – students absorb language, gesture, humour, and social dynamics all at once. It is a window into how Italians relate to each other, well beyond what a textbook can offer.

This Semester’s Film: Perfetti sconosciuti (2016)

This year we selected Perfetti sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers), directed by Paolo Genovese.

Genovese is a Roman filmmaker known for sharp, dialogue-driven comedies that explore contemporary Italian relationships. His work often blends humour with uncomfortable truths, and Perfetti sconosciuti is his most acclaimed film – so successful it has been remade in over 20 countries.

The story is deceptively simple: seven long-time friends gather for a dinner party and decide to play a game – every phone is placed on the table, and all incoming calls, messages, and notifications must be shared openly. What begins as a playful challenge quickly unravels secrets, lies, and hidden lives, testing the bonds of friendship and marriage.

The film is a masterclass in how Italians use dinner as a space for intimacy and confrontation – making it a perfect fit for our Italian Movie & Pizza Night tradition.

Interested in attending our exclusive student events?

We host a variety of events throughout the year! Visit our Italian Events page for current events or subscribe to get notified for upcoming events!