The Icicle Thief

1989 1h 30m IT

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 37

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Director Maurizio Nichetti is invited on TV to introduce a screening of his neo-realist classic 'The Icicle Thief'. He is horrified to discover that his black-and-white tale of life in poverty is constantly interrupted by garish color commercials, and even more horrified when a power cut in the studio causes film and commercials to mix up – a glamorous model finds herself in the arms of an unemployed pauper, while his wife finds herself in consumers' heaven. Nichetti has to break into the film to try to sort everything out.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Maurizio Nichetti
Self / Antonio Piermattei
Caterina Sylos Labini
Maria Piermattei
Federico Rizzo
Bruno Piermattei
Renato Scarpa
Don Italo
Heidi Komarek
Modella
Carlina Torta
Telespettatrice
Massimo Sacilotto
Telespettatore
Claudio G. Fava
Critico

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Maurizio Nichetti
Writers: Mauro Monti, Maurizio Nichetti, Maurizio Nichetti
Languages: English, Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Maurizio Nichetti, shot by Mario Battistoni. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Manuel De Sica. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Anna Missoni shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Maurizio Nichetti and Caterina Sylos Labini and Federico Rizzo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0097702 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Maurizio Nichetti directs. Mario Battistoni behind the camera. Manuel De Sica scores. Anna Missoni cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in English, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
237 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.
4Directed by Maurizio Nichetti, shot by Mario Battistoni. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Manuel De Sica. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Anna Missoni shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Maurizio Nichetti and Caterina Sylos Labini and Federico Rizzo carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0097702 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 37 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.