Bellissima (Beautiful, Luchino Visconti, 1951)

Designed to showcase the explosive screen presence of Anna Magnani, Bellissima stars the iconic actress as a working-class mother who will sacrifice anything—including the family’s meager finances—to turn her young daughter into a movie star. To this day, it’s still one of the most beloved films to emerge from Italian cinema. (108 mins., 35mm)