Alice Rohrwacher's Happy as Lazzaro (2018) is a mesmerizing blend of social realism and magical fable that earned the Cannes Best Screenplay award. The film follows Lazzaro, a preternaturally kind young peasant living with his family in the isolated rural community of Inviolata, who are kept in feudal servitude by the manipulative tobacco baroness, the Marquise Alfonsina de Luna. Lazzaro's gentle, unquestioning nature makes him both exploited and beloved within this insular world.

The narrative takes a breathtaking turn halfway through, transitioning from a critique of modern exploitation into a profound meditation on time, innocence, and corruption. Adriano Tardiolo delivers a remarkable performance in his acting debut as Lazzaro, embodying saintly simplicity with haunting authenticity. Rohrwacher's direction is masterful, using 16mm film to create a textured, timeless visual poetry that bridges the pastoral and the surreal.

Viewers should watch Happy as Lazzaro for its unique alchemy of political commentary and poetic mystery. The film operates as both a sharp indictment of capitalist exploitation and a transcendent fairy tale about purity in a corrupted world. Its unexpected narrative shift challenges viewers while maintaining emotional resonance, making it a deeply moving cinematic experience that lingers long after the credits roll. This is Italian cinema at its most inventive and spiritually resonant.