The Little Devil (1988)

In *The Little Devil*, the quiet, ordered life of Father Maurice (Walter Matthau), a priest residing in a Roman college, is irrevocably shattered when he is called upon to perform an exorcism. Instead of a monstrous entity, the possessed woman unleashes Giuditta (Roberto Benigni), a gleeful, fun-loving devil in human form. Once freed, the uninhibited Giuditta latches onto the flustered priest, seeing him as his new guide to the sensory wonders of the mortal world—from candy and trains to women. Father Maurice, completely unprepared for this type of devil, soon realizes that Giuditta's insatiable curiosity and chaotic energy are destined to turn his sheltered existence completely upside down. This film is a quintessential entry on any list of the best Roberto Benigni movies because it is a pure, undiluted showcase of his unique comedic genius. As Giuditta, Benigni embodies the "human tornado" persona that made him an international star—a whirlwind of manic physical comedy, childlike wonder, and anarchic charm. The film's brilliance is cemented by the masterful odd-couple pairing with the legendary Walter Matthau, whose world-weary exasperation provides the perfect deadpan anchor for Benigni's unrestrained chaos. As an early work that Benigni also co-wrote and directed, *The Little Devil* represents a crucial step in his evolution as an auteur, expertly blending slapstick with a heartfelt, if zany, exploration of breaking free from rigidity to embrace life's simple, chaotic joys.