Much more than just watching films in Milan

Ciao! My name is Tilly and I visited Milan this winter for a 2-week intensive university course on Italian Cinema at the Universita’ Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore. Although this wasn’t my first time visiting Italy, it was definitely filled with the most memorable experiences and friends and left me with more curiosity towards the world and a renewed passion for cinema, especially international cinema!

Watching films for uni sounds like a pretty sweet deal and it was but also so much more than that! Our small class became close over the duration and we would go out for meals, and drinks and explore new parts of the city together. One of my favourite nights spent together was after enjoying some delicious aperitifs together, we discovered a buffet-style bar with cocktails and drinks and such wholesome, delicious food that felt so home-cooked. Learning about other international student’s lives in their home countries was fascinating, and sharing the experience of discovering a new country and city together made it feel much less overwhelming.

Our tutor Maria was so welcoming and taught us so much about Italian language and culture through the Italian films as well as the Italian film industry and film techniques. Having extensive industry experience and growing up in Milan herself, Maria was the perfect tutor and went well above my expectations. Another highlight of our studies was a field trip to the MIC (Museum of Interactive Cinema) where we saw some of the first ever film cameras, tried out some sound mixing and green screens, watched a mini VR film, and ended the day with a boutique screening of 8½ (1963) by iconic Italian director, Frederico Fellini.

Milan wasn’t the only Italian city I explored during my travels and Bellagio, on the famous Lake Como, was another highlight! It brought in both locals looking for a weekend on the water to escape the heat from the city and also international travellers wanting to taste a bit of the “high-life” of celebrities such as George Clooney (who owns a stunning house on the lake). However, what surprised me most was the smaller towns I visited along the lake and the friendly, helpful locals who would recommend to me the best pizza in town, or the best swimming spots (Navigili is a must) and all the beautiful things to do that might not have made it on the tourist map.

Cliché but true: travelling to another country and experiencing another language really does give you new perspectives on your life back home, new interests and inspires the curiosity of an adventurer. I would recommend any student to experience studying internationally – these opportunities are a privilege and should be embraced as much as possible while undertaking your degree!

Matilda Single
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
‘Italian Masterpieces, portrayal of a culture through its cinema’ at Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Global Short Programs Travel Scholarship recipient