Lao Tze

Among the "not bad" films and those "so bad they are, in their way, genius," I've always preferred the latter.

As a result, here’s my top three:

3) "Ciao mà..." by Giandomenico Curi (1988): we are in Rome in '87, of course 'C'è chi dice no' is at the top of the charts, Vasco is in concert at the PalaEur. School is out, the kids are enjoying their just-beginning vacations, but above all, they are preparing for the magical evening that will change everyone's lives. There’s the shy girl next door (a flesh-and-blood Albachiara) dreaming of true love, there’s the muscle-bound guy with the motorcycle, there’s the serious, studious type who only listens to classical music and thinks girls don't like him, but surprise, they do, there’s the rocker "io so' ribbelle" trying to sneak in by pretending to be a sound technician, there’s the desperate girl looking for a date, and there’s Claudia Gerini still a minor. Epic final scene (on the subway) to the notes of 'Ridere di te', a sort of Italian Breakfast Club highlighting a passionate generational 'volemose bene'. Vaporidis & Co. drew great inspiration from this.

2) "Mezzo destro mezzo sinistro - 2 calciatori senza pallone" by Sergio Martino (1985): the newly promoted team is not Longobarda but Marchigiana aka Sambenedettese, which relies on the experience of Gigi (Sammarchi) Cesarini and especially Andrea (Roncato) Margheritoni, a womanizing, out-of-shape forward back from a failed experience in the States. Amid a series of silly gags and players farting on the field, we’ll meet the blond Dane Kekkonen (a name, a program) and the Brazilian flop Felipe Goncalves, who is not used to the rhythms of our championship. The team will go through moments of crisis and will be sent to a retreat, or rather, to a convent in the Apennines. Notable appearances include Pino Insegno as Carlo Vacca and Leo Gullotta as the newly appointed coach, the Argentine iron sergeant Juan Carlos Fulgencio - known for his typical phrase: "estos jugadores son grandes lavativos." Essential for all fans of Tonino Carino and provincial football of yesteryears.

1) "Sposerò Simon Le Bon - Confessioni di una sedicenne innamorata persa dei Duran Duran" by Carlo Cotti (1986): Milan to drink, paninari, colorful Timberland, Moncler jackets, Cagiva Elefant motorcycles. An explosive mix sets the backdrop for the story of teenager Clizia, a good girl from a middle-class family who lives solely in the thoughts of Duran Duran. Especially Simon, while her best friend Rossana is dying for John Taylor. Her little brother is a fan of Madonna and a supporter of Inter. These are the years of first heartbreaks and small family tensions: the usual teenager woes, in short. These are the years of Drive-In, but also of "truzzo!", "troppo giusto!", and "sei fuori di melone!". Afternoons are spent in front of the TV, dreaming of America like Ramazzotti, DeeJay.