Whether we like it or not, "Vacanze di Natale", directed in 1983 by Carlo Vanzina and written together with his brother Enrico forty years ago, is a cult or perhaps even something more. Behind the lines that have remained in history and spoken by actors who would later become successful, such as Jerry Calà or Christian De Sica, there is a real satire of the habits and customs of the average Italian in the early eighties.A real historical document, to which the vast majority of Italians have become attached from the beginning, so much so that they have shown affection repeatedly over the course of these forty years. Thanks to this movie, the proliferation of Christmas movies very often labeled "cinepanettoni" took place. Although, rarely has such an iconic result been achieved as that of "Vacanze di Natale".On 15 and 16 December, at the historic Hotel de la Poste, location of numerous movies set in Cortina, a mega event dedicated to "Vacanze di Natalw" was held. The event began on Friday 15 with a performance by Jerry Calà, who played the piano pianist and dongiovanni Billo in the movie. And it continued the following evening, with the awarding of Enrico Vanzina who received the "Nations Award" for Lifetime Achievement."Vacanze di Natale" stages real status symbols of Italy at the time. And among the many icons present here, there is one that surely many can remember: the historic Mini De Tomaso driven by Jerry Calà, an Italian jewel, the result of the acquisition of the Innocenti brand from the Italian De Tomaso. We talked about it here. But this is also the movie of Dogui (Guido Nicheli) and his famous "Alboreto is Nothing" pronounced after parking his Mercedes Benz W126 in the hotel, whose production is attested during the 80s, thus placing itself in an overbearing way in the "luxury cars" of that era.If cinepanettoni that followed one another after this movie have in some way represented the vices of Italians (or a part of them) then it is fair to say that they also represented the cars of Italians. And so here is a list of cars that you can find in the famous Christmas movies that have followed one another in these forty years of activity. 
Il film è zeppo di automobili iconiche: dalla Fiat Croma 154 guidata da Christian de Sica (emblematica nella scena in cui de Sica e Boldi portano decidono di tradire le rispettive consorti) alla Rolls Royce Silver Spirit guidata da Willy (Ezio Greggio), uno dei personaggi più divertenti di tutto il film. Lo stesso Willy in altre scene del film- soprattutto durante i titoli di testa - guida una mitica Autobianchi Y10 Turbo, dotata di alcuni accessori iconici, come il quadrante digitale o il telefono di bordo. 
“Yuppies-I giovani di successo”: Fiat Croma, Autobianchi Y10 Turbo, Rolls Royce Silver SprintWe have said that Christmas movies have documented the reality of an era and should therefore be seen as a "historical document". So what can we say about "Yuppies – The successful young people", a 1986 movie directed by Carlo Vanzina and which aims to tell the story of the young people of the "Milan to drink in the 80s", businessmen stuffed with English terms and stereotypes. The cast includes Christian de Sica, Massimo Boldi, Jerry Calà and Ezio Greggio and was so successful with the public that it was released the same year with a sequel, "Yuppies 2", directed by Enrico Oldoini. The movie is full of iconic cars: from the Fiat Croma 154 driven by Christian de Sica (emblematic in the scene in which de Sica and Boldi decide to cheat on their respective wives) to the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit driven by Willy (Ezio Greggio), one of the funniest characters in the entire movie. Willy himself in other scenes of the movie - especially during the opening credits - drives a legendary Autobianchi Y10 Turbo, equipped with some iconic accessories, such as the digital dial or the on-board phone.
Vacanze di Natale ‘90: Ferrari 348Set in a luxurious hotel in St. Moritz, "Christmas Holidays '90" definitively confirms the idyll between Christian de Sica and Massimo Boldi, a couple that will be increasingly consolidated in subsequent movies. This movie can also include new entries in the cast such as Diego Abatantuono (who acts for almost the entire duration of the movie without opening his mouth, but being dubbed by his voice-over) and Andrea Roncato in the role of "White Fang", hang gliding master and also welcome returns, such as that of Ezio Greggio, already present in "Yuppies" and "Montecarlo Gran Casino".The opening scene of this movie sees Toni (Christian de Sica) and Bindo (Massimo Boldi) chasing each other in a mad chase through the streets leading to St. Moritz. Both are on board a Ferrari 348: the same model in all respects except, of course, in the license plate: Varese for Bindo, Rome for Tony. After a long series of overtaking moves and a narrowly escaped accident with a cow, the two stop and recognize each other: they are former military comrades.
Vacanze di Natale 2000: la Ritmo Abarth di Enzo SalviIt is from this movie that the Christmas trend begins to take a more trashy, almost vulgar drift. Social satire begins to give way exclusively to double entendres (most often sexual). "Vacanze di Natale 2000" is the cinepanettone that acts as a bridge between the twentieth century and the new century. In the cast there is the most famous model of the moment: Megan Gale, a timeless beauty, already testimonial of Omnitel.On the subject of cars, this movie is to be counted for the presence of Enzo Salvi, known as "Er Cipolla", here at his first Christmas movie, before becoming a regular presence in each chapter. We see him appear aboard an unmistakable yellow Fiat Ritmo Abarth with two red flames on the sides (the colors of AS Roma football team). This car is also an icon that has gone through all the 80s and 90s, appearing in many Italian movies, giving us a healthy dose of nostalgia for a historical period that no longer exists.
“Vacanze di Natale a Cortina”: Alfa Romeo 8C CompetizioneThe passing of the baton from Carlo Vanzina to Neri Parenti took place in 2000 with the movie "Bodyguards". In 2011, with "Christmas Holidays in Cortina" the era of Christmas movies came to an end. This last chapter, directed by Neri Parenti, returns to where it all began: in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The protagonist is Roberto Covelli, a character already played by Christian de Sica in "Vacanze di Natale" in 1983. It's a pity, however, that no other characters in that movie return here.The well-being of Roberto Covelli's character is well represented by the car he drives: an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, a Gran Turismo produced in a limited series, powered by the Ferrari F136 engine. A real red gem, A dignified exit for a movie that has never been much remembered over the years.To sum up: even if many may turn up their noses at this kind of movie, it is very curious to see how at each edition of a cinepanettone the habits and customs of the average Italian are increasingly represented, also and above all in relation to his cars.
