I watched Checco Zalone‘s Christmas 2025 film at the cinema. In “Buen Camino”, Luca Medici once again divides and unites Italy with a story he himself described as “cunning”, but which hides a fierce satire on privileged Italy. Here is my complete analysis of the film.
The Plot: From the sofa showroom to the dust of Santiago
The protagonist is a classic “spoiled brat”, a nouveau riche boor who boasts a singular record: he has never worked a single day in his life. His fortune comes from the sofa empire built by his father, a tireless entrepreneur now hospitalized and unable to communicate due to a stroke.
The protagonist’s life of excess and vulgarity is shaken when his daughter, tired of an absent and embarrassing father, disappears without a trace. The girl has decided to embark on the Camino de Santiago to find herself and distance herself from that golden but empty world. Zalone thus sets off in pursuit, not out of faith, but in a desperate (and clumsy) attempt to recover the only affection he has left.
Why is it a “cunning” film?
Zalone candidly admitted the “cunning” nature of the film. Here’s why this definition fits:
- The theme of redemption: The transition from “boor without values” to a conscious father is a heartwarming narrative arc, perfect for the Christmas audience.
- The social contrast: Putting a man who has lived in the most extravagant luxury (and on the most comfortable sofas) to sleep in the hostels of the Camino creates immediate physical and situational comedy.
- The cathartic ending: Without giving too much away, the reunion between father and daughter (who will find each other after miles of misunderstandings) is designed to move even the most cynical viewer.
Film Analysis: What works and what doesn’t
Strengths
- The satire of idleness: Zalone is masterful in depicting the arrogance of those who are rich by inheritance and not by merit.
- The humanity of the “monster”: Despite being a boor, Checco’s character manages to endear himself precisely in his total inadequacy for physical sacrifice.
- Talented supporting actors: Beatriz Arjona, the woman Zalone falls in love with during the Camino but cannot date for obvious reasons we won’t reveal here, is very talented. Also talented is Zalone’s daughter, the very young Italian actress (18 years old) Letizia Arno, a promising talent in Italian cinema with an impressive resume already at her young age. Among the titles she has participated in as an actress are “A casa tutti bene” by Gabriele Muccino and “Tre piani” by Nanni Moretti.
Weaknesses
- Sentimentality: At some points, the search for emotion takes over pure laughter, making the pace less tight compared to Quo Vado.
- The figure of the daughter: A character perhaps a bit too idealized to counterbalance the “monstrosity” of the father.
- Some jokes beyond politically incorrect: Addressing the current husband of his ex-wife, a Palestinian intellectual, he says: “He’s the only Palestinian who has occupied a territory: ‘Gaza MIa’.”
Technical Table
| Element | Detail |
| Protagonist | Checco Zalone (an heir to a sofa empire) |
| Motivation | Rebuild the relationship with his missing daughter |
| Location | From the palaces of Sardinia to the trails of Galicia |
| Key themes | Family, inheritance, humility, redemption |
“Buen Camino” is a film that plays with the viewer’s emotions, alternating between hearty laughter and bitter reflection. Although it is less “groundbreaking” than Tolo Tolo, Zalone’s ability to laugh at his own miseries (and ours) remains unmatched. It’s a film that comfortably sits on the “sofa” of guaranteed success, but also knows how to walk towards unexpected emotional territories.
Rating: 8 / 10
