3030. Three Girls From Rome (1952)

Starring: Lucia Bosè, Cosetta Greco, Liliana Bonfatti

Director: Luciano Emmer

Running Time: 95 mins

Three Girls From Rome (Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna) is an Italian film about a trio of young women living near the famous Piazza di Spagna, and the story of their various romances and relationships with those around them.

A film that seems to teeter on the edge of a slice-of-life drama, Three Girls From Rome is certainly authentic and honest throughout, but it’s far from the most gripping or entertaining watch. Sweet it may be, but the film lacks a wider and deeper appeal beyond a window into everyday life in Rome.

Now, if you’re Italian, know Rome and were around in the early 1950s, then I can bet you’ll adore this film. Though it doesn’t have an enormous international appeal, it’s a very honest and pure account of the dramas of day-to-day life in Roman society at the time.

As a result, it’s the sort of film that can really play on the nostalgia of young adulthood, as well as the memory of the unique situation many found themselves in as Italy continued to restructure itself after the Second World War.

Certainly, the young adult nostalgia has a wider appeal than just a Roman audience, and the sweet drama, likeable characters and honest depiction of family relationships will certainly engender a strong response from those who can relate, but the film’s own story isn’t quite as gripping.

Three Girls From Rome is one of those films that really works when you bring your own perspective to it, but it doesn’t do much itself to entertain or grab you. It’s a light-hearted film, but it’s not particularly, while the drama – though perfectly harmless and genuine – is far from enthralling.

The film looks at contemporary society in an honest manner, but does little to bring more challenging or memorable drama to the table, which is why it feels so much like a slice-of-life drama to me.

That’s why I can’t say I was entirely enamoured by Three Girls From Rome. A pleasant, honest and pure film it may be, and it may certainly bring a strong response from those who can relate deeply to its time period, setting and scenarios, but it isn’t the most gripping, entertaining or widely appealing watch. So, that’s why I’m giving it a 6.5 overall.