Italian for Beginners
“Attendance optional. Passion required.”
Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives. The film, which unspools the connections and family drama shared between the students, complies with several aesthetic principles of Dogme 95 movement.
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Cast
24 people
Anders W. Berthelsen
Andreas
Known for
The Killing
Just Another Love Story
Anette Støvelbæk
Olympia
Known for
In a Better World
Island of Lost Souls
Ann Eleonora Jørgensen
Karen
Known for
The Killing
Elves
Peter Gantzler
Jørgen Mortensen
Known for
The Boss of It All
In China They Eat Dogs
Lars Kaalund
Hal-Finn
Known for
The One and Only
Daisy Diamond
Sara Indrio Jensen
Giulia
Also in
The Shamer's Daughter 2: The Serpent Gift
No Time for Love
Karen-Lise Mynster
Ejendomsmægler
Known for
When the Dust Settles
Battle
Rikke Wölck
Sygeplejerske
Also in
Matador
Strisser på Samsø
Elsebeth Steentoft
Kvinde i kirke
Known for
Teddy Bear
The Green Butchers
Bent Mejding
Pastor Wredmann
Known for
The Killing
Reptilicus
Lene Tiemroth
Karens mor
Also in
The Girl and the Viscount
How to Get Rid of the Others
Claus Gerving
Klaus Graversen
Also in
Darkness: Those Who Kill
Borgen
Lone Scherfig Director · Maeve Binchy Author Rune Palving Composer
Worldwide gross $16M · Budget $1M · United States release December 20, 2000
Box office
Budget
$1,000,000
Worldwide gross
$16,350,876
Gross vs. budget
16.4×
Production
Zentropa Entertainments
Production
DR
Production
Denmark · Sweden
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Italiensk for begyndere
Original language
Danish
Spoken on screen
Danish · Italian
Release dates
Denmark · December 7, 2000
Theatrical
United States · December 20, 2000
Theatrical
Austria
March 8, 2002 · Digital
Czechia
September 12, 2002 · Theatrical
Germany
January 17, 2002 · Theatrical
August 14, 2002 · Physical
Hungary
September 25, 2003 · Digital
Netherlands
November 15, 2001 · Theatrical
June 5, 2025 · Theatrical · 30 jaar Dogma
Switzerland
January 31, 2002 · Digital
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Some details come from TheTVDB.