Alice Rohrwacher's Happy as Lazzaro (2018) is a mesmerizing blend of social realism and magical fable that earned the Cannes Best Screenplay award. The film follows Lazzaro, a preternaturally kind young peasant living with his family in the isolated rural community of Inviolata, which operates under a feudal system of exploitation by the tobacco baroness Marchesa Alfonsina de Luna. Lazzaro's gentle, almost saintly nature makes him both beloved and taken advantage of by everyone around him.

The narrative takes a stunning, surreal turn halfway through, transporting Lazzaro through time while maintaining his unchanged innocence. This structural shift transforms the film from a specific critique of Italian sharecropping into a timeless meditation on modernity, corruption, and the persistence of goodness in a cynical world. Adriano Tardiolo delivers a remarkable performance in his acting debut as Lazzaro, embodying purity without sentimentality, while Alba Rohrwacher shines as the complex baroness.

Rohrwacher's direction masterfully balances earthy realism with magical elements, creating a tone that feels both grounded and dreamlike. The cinematography by Hélène Louvart captures the Italian countryside with a textured, almost tactile quality. Viewers should watch Happy as Lazzaro for its unique storytelling approach, profound social commentary, and emotional resonance that lingers long after viewing. It's a film that challenges audiences to consider the cost of progress and the value of innocence in our contemporary world.