A Strange Italian Christmas Movie You Should See

One of the most peculiar traditions in Italy is the annual showing of what is considered an Italian Christmas movie classic that you might want to add to your plans.

Italian Christmas Movie - Xmas Tree In Rome's Past

When we were planning on moving to Italy, we learned as much as we could about the culture and traditions of the country. We wanted to know what to expect and fully embrace our new home. Christmas, for the most part, is what you would expect in a country that is home to Vatican City.

One tradition that I didn’t believe at first was a traditional Italian Christmas movie that I don’t think is even suggested as being part of the American holiday tradition. The movie is Trading Places, which is renamed: Una Poltrona Per Due and roughly translates to: “An Armchair For Two”.

This classic is a take on the tale of the rich man and the poor man who have swapped places and has been aired on Italian television almost every Christmas since 1997. This year Italian theaters will screen the restored 4K version of the movie leading up to the holiday season.

What Is The Story Of This Christmas Movie In Italy?

Trading Places is a classic “Fish Out Of Water” comedy about a rich guy who becomes poor, a poor guy who becomes rich and how they adapt to their new environments. The events that lead to these changes are instigated by two ultra-rich brothers who are trying to demonstrate the importance of nurture vs. nature.

While this might sound like a very dry sociological study, the two main characters are expertly played by Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, so you can expect a ton of laughs, and there are. In the end, these manipulative brothers get their just desserts and the pawns in this experiment end up the winners.

This Is Not A Hallmark Italian Movie

No, this is definitely not your traditional Hallmark movie as there are adult themes, like prostitution, suicide and murder. There is also some nudity and even some implied beastiality. This is not what I would consider your typical Hallmark movie, but it is very funny.

Why Is Trading Places A Christmas Movie?

This is definitely a good question. When you consider the adult themes I mentioned above, it wouldn’t seem like your typical American Christmas story, but by European or Italian standards, it is a perfect fit.

I would add this movie to the ongoing debate of whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Both movies take place during the holiday season and in one scene Dan Aykroyd is dressed up like Santa, the holiday really doesn’t factor into the plot very much and could take place any time of the year.

How Can I Create An Italian Christmas Memory?

If you want to embrace Italian culture just a little bit more, I would suggest adding this movie to your holiday traditions. It may seem strange at first, but I believe it will grow on you and you will wonder why you’ve been watching Elf or A Christmas Story all these years and not Una Poltrona Per Due!