Why is it called Lamerica?
The movie has nothing to do with america, at least on the surface.
shareIf you have see the movie, do you remember the poor italian guy that travel with ship on Italy at end of movie? He was in Albania since the 2nd world war, and lived his life on Albania for 45 years who believed that he live in Italy. After fell's of communism in Albania for over 50 years, on year 1990 most of Albanian people emigrated on Italy, so also poor Italian guy emigrated too but in his real state "Italy" that he did not know, he in his mind thought that he went in America. He had problem with brain.
"who know why" maybe the communism system in Albania make him with mind problem.
i think the poor guy story tell us the Italian dream about America, the land of freedom,
that all Italian after World War II time wanted to travel and lived in America.
this is from what i understand, maybe the title L'America is mixature of Albanian problems and Italians dreaming about America.
the rest of movie is for Albanian emigration post communism problems, poverty and other things after changes of system there.
Hope i'm right, and helped a little bit.
cheers!
Another reason: many Italians emigrated to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries seeking a better life. Today Italy is a prosperous nation and many Albanians emigrate there seeking a better life -- Italy is for many Albanians today what America was for many Italians 100 years ago.
I think there is also a certain subtler commentary on the dependency many wealthier countries have on low wage immigrant labor. Today Albania often seems to be what Mexico is to the US -- a major source of the cheap labor their economies have come to depend on while at the same time those who come from those countries are often resented by the very people whose economic demands have created their presence.
That's all true and also "Lamerica" is sort of a play on words because to the Italian immigrants who were traveling to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Italian word for America, which is L'america, sounded like one word "Lamerica." Also, as America was known as the land of opportunity, there was an Italian phrase to describe anyone who hit a spot of good luck, you would say that they had "found L'america," or gotten lucky.
shareI would say all of these are correct. The term L'america as a land of opportunity for italians in the turn of the 20th century. The fact most of the immigrants at that time were illiterate and thought the word was "Lamerica."
And then how italy seemed to represent this new and prosperous land to the albanians. How many times was Gino asked about cars, lifestyle, opportunity? Not to mention the tv making america seem glamorous. Great title to a beautiful film.
Can't keep me off this escalator!
By the way, "Lamerica" is a misspelling for "L'America" and is a homage to Elsa Morante's novel "La storia" ("The story").
I'm Winston Wolf. I solve problems.
...And no dream is ever... just a dream...