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With cardboard houses, sugar winters, and broccoli trees, No Dogs or Italians Allowed at first seems lighthearted, playful, and not too serious. Alain Ughetto casts himself asking his grandmother Cesira about his family, but we only see his hands moving and interacting with the characters as if he was crafting clay model miniatures. However, the whimsical approach sugarcoats the very tragedies that struck his family– from the multiple wars to the discrimination they’ve faced as immigrants– with excellent animation and puppetry that feels much more lifelike than 3D CGI. In telling his family’s story, Ughetto also retells 20th century European history, reframing the worldwide events and movements through a personal perspective.

Genre: Animation, Drama, Family, History

Actor: Alain Ughetto, Ariane Ascaride, Bruno Fontaine, Christophe Gatto, Diego Giuliani, Laura Devoti, Stefano Paganini

Director: Alain Ughetto

There have been nearly 30 movie adaptations and countless TV shows of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte-Cristo, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a classic tale of fate, justice, corruption, and love, making it an educational and entertaining watch. You might think, then, that this latest one by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière won’t add anything much to the roster, and in a way, that’s true. The film doesn’t change much of the dialogue, setting, and characters. It stands out, however, for being impressively concise and fast-paced without sacrificing the novel’s weighty themes and messages. Even if you already know what happens in this classic tale of vengeance, it still feels thrilling—thanks to its impeccable pace, sure, but also, to compelling performances across the board and lavish costumes and set designs that transport you to 19th-century France. The film is three hours long, but it never feels that way.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

Actor: Adèle Simphal, Anaïs Demoustier, Anamaria Vartolomei, Bastien Bouillon, Bruno Raffaelli, Clémentine Baert, Florence Muller, Françoise Gazio, Julie de Bona, Julien de Saint Jean, Laurent Lafitte, Lily Dupont, Marie Narbonne, Oscar Lesage, Patrick Mille, Pierfrancesco Favino, Pierre Niney, Vassili Schneider, Xavier de Guillebon

Director: Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte

Rating: NR