Seven Beauties

This gem from the 1970s portrays the moral decay of Fascist Italy through the character of Pasqualino (Giancarlo Giannini)—the embodiment of machismo and social hypocrisy. A minor Neapolitan criminal, he lives off his seven sisters (“Settebellezze”). After killing a pimp in the name of “honor,” he is arrested and ends up in a concentration camp, where he tries to survive by seducing a Nazi officer. Dark and provocative, the film pushes the boundaries of humor and political correctness, oscillating between bitter comedy and agonizing realism. With four Oscar nominations, it made Lina Wertmüller the first woman ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.