Italy Is Not a Poor Country

1960 1h 49m IT

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

⭐

7.6

IMDB

★9.0TMDB · 1★7.6IMDB · 37

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A documentary about Italy's underground oil and metan deposits, sponsored by Italian state-owned oil company, ENI. Pictures of the state-of-the-art oil infrastructure are mixed with others of the traditional way of living of poorer Italian regions.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Enrico Maria Salerno
narrator

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Joris Ivens
Writers: Alberto Moravia
Languages: 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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

66 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Joris Ivens, shot by Mario Volpe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gino Marinuzzi Jr.. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0053959 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Joris Ivens directs. Mario Volpe behind the camera. Gino Marinuzzi Jr. scores. Joris Ivens cuts. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

166 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Joris Ivens, shot by Mario Volpe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Gino Marinuzzi Jr.. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Joris Ivens shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6IMDB entry: tt0053959 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.