8 movies about Bologna to watch before your trip

Hanno rubato un tram (1954)

“The women of Bologna can’t make tagliatelle. The Ancient Romans made them first!”

That’s what Cesare, the main character, tells his daughter before snatching the rolling pin from her hands.
A joke with a Roman accent, but it's hard to hold a grudge against Aldo Fabrizi—his affection for Bologna shines in every frame of Hanno rubato un tram.

This is the first movie ever entirely filmed in Bologna.

A real event at the time: everyday citizens and students skipped school to sneak onto the set.
Cesare, a Roman tram driver who moved to Bologna for love, begins to spiral after a tragic accident.

His solution?
Stealing a tram and driving around the city, picking up passengers.

A heartfelt snapshot of 1950s Bologna, when trams ran down Via Rizzoli, the Maggiore Hospital stood in Via Broccaindosso, and men played bocce after work.

Bonus: a young Sergio Leone makes a cameo, with Mario Bava on cinematography.

Jack Frusciante è uscito dal gruppo (1996)

We all fell in love with a friend during high school.
We all ended up disappointed and misunderstood by the world.
We all read Jack Frusciante and felt we weren't alone. At least in Bologna.

A generational teenage movie, inspired by a best-selling novel that all Bologna's teenagers in the '90s have read.
If the book's strength is honest and direct writing, in the movie, Bologna is the real protagonist.
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Alex, played by local actor Stefano Accorsi, rides through the portico of Via Saragozza. He meets Aidi for the first time under the 2 towers, just near Quadrilatero food market.

They walk at night in Piazza Santo Stefano, the most romantic square in Bologna.
If not enough, the director, the writer, most of the troupe and the actors are all local Bolognesi.

The title quotes John Frusciante, who left Red Hot Chili Peppers for the first time in 1992. To avoid rights troubles, Enrico Brizzi (author of the book) decided to change his name to Jack.

Excellent soundtrack with Bjork, Paul Weller, and Pulp.

Paz! (2002)

In Bologna, 1977, a bunch of young people live in the same apartment building on Via Emilia Ponente, but never really interact.

You've got Pentothal, a lazy cartoonist, Enrico, who doesn't have much drive either, and Massimo, a high school bully, dragging his friends into a weird school mystery.

Renato De Maria's film, "Paz!," is a tribute to Andrea Pazienza, an iconic Italian cartoonist.

The movie's got a vibrant, energetic vibe with some unique, surprising visuals that capture the artistic and political buzz of Bologna University, DAMS.

Characters are funny, lively, and instantly recognizable, though the story can get a bit messy and disjointed at times. Some scenes, like Fiabeschi's exam on "Apocalypse Now," are unforgettable.

Lavorare con lentezza (2004)

Bologna, 1977.
Not an ordinary place, nor an ordinary time.

A year marked by tension, protests, and terrorism—but also by freedom, political activism, and collective dreams.
Bologna stood at the center of Italy’s cultural and political life: a boiling crucible, always on the verge of explosion.

Director Guido Chiesa revisits this turbulent era through a tapestry of intersecting stories.
Stories of policemen caught between duty and doubt.
Of a thief planning a bank heist.
Of a lawyer who lives his romantic and sexual life with unapologetic freedom.
And the raw, intimate portraits of two working-class outsiders struggling to find meaning in the outskirts of Bologna.

Binding these lives together is the voice of Radio Alice—Italy’s first free radio station.
In an age now dominated by Spotify and algorithm-driven playlists, its anarchic, unfiltered broadcasts feel like a relic from a purer, more rebellious past.

Another faded Polaroid of Bologna—one to watch, to remember, and to keep among the memories that must not be lost.

Quo vadis, baby? (2005)

In this rain-soaked neo-noir by Gabriele Salvatores, Bologna becomes a city of shadows and secrets.

Private investigator Giorgia Cantini searches for the truth behind her sister’s mysterious death, lost in time and memories.

Shot almost entirely at night, the film captures a more intimate, melancholic side of the city.

Inspired by Marlon Brando’s line in Last Tango in Paris, the title hints at emotional exile.

Atmospheric soundtrack by Ezio Bosso adds depth to this haunting story.

Gli amici del Bar Margherita (2009)

Forget Wi-Fi and espresso-on-the-go.
In the 1950s, the Italian bar was a second home—a sacred place of rituals, gossip, and camaraderie.

In Gli amici del Bar Margherita, Pupi Avati paints a nostalgic picture of one such bar on Via Saragozza, seen through the eyes of Taddeo, a young man dreaming of joining the adult world.

A charming, bittersweet comedy full of quirky characters, unspoken codes, and a Bologna that’s slowly fading.

Note: the real Bar Margherita exists, but the film was shot elsewhere.
Try Billi Bar for a timeless experience.

L'incredibile storia dell'isola delle rose (2020)

Did you know a Bolognese engineer once created his own nation in the Adriatic Sea?

That’s the true story behind Rose Island, a Netflix original starring Elio Germano as Giorgio Rosa—a dreamer who defies Italian bureaucracy to build a utopia.

Bologna appears in the opening scenes: at Pappagallo restaurant, in Piazza Santo Stefano, and around the old university.

Funny, whimsical, and quietly political.

Le Pupille (2022)

Only 37 minutes, enough to go to Hollywood.

Le pupille is a short movie by Alice Rohrwacher, produced by Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaròn, who was nominated for the 2023 Oscar.

The director was looking for a Dickens-style orphanage and she found it in Via della Braina, just next to Scaccomatto.

Then she needed a church, and San Barbaziano appeared as the perfect fit.

Last location that you will recognize: the stunning portico of San Luca.

One funny note: Gianluca Farinelli, the head of Cineteca di Bologna, appears in a cameo with his wife.

Final thoughts

Whether you're planning your first visit or coming back to Bologna for the tenth time, these films will show you the city’s soul in all its shades—from dreamy porticos to political rebellion, from teenage heartbreak to historical quirks.

Which one will you watch first?