Overview
A humorous journey through life, exploring the absurdities of everyday existence.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- deadpan
- reflective
- quiet afternoon
- arthouse movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly view the film as an inventive, witty autobiographical essay whose episodic form and Moretti’s persona offer engaging observations despite unevenness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The three chapters separately follow scooter travel, island wandering, and consultations with doctors while forming a unified self-portrait.
Nanni Moretti directs and plays himself, using his travels, artistic frustrations, and health concerns as the film’s explicit subject.
The film’s semi-autobiographical episodes mix lived experience, self-reference, travel observation, and artistic creation.
Moretti humorously observes scooter journeys, remote-island communities, film-making difficulties, and repeated medical consultations.
Films like Dear Diary, and why
8½
shared self-reflexive autobiographical comedy, essay-film structure, and wry observation of artistic life
The Beaches of Agnès
shared episodic travel structure, deadpan humor, and intimate examination of a filmmaker’s personal life
The Voyage of Monsieur Perrichon
shared episodic European art-house comedy, self-conscious storytelling, and restless cultural observation
Movie Details
- Director
- Nanni Moretti
- Release Date
- 1993-11-12
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (528)
Cast
- Nanni Moretti
- Renato Carpentieri
- Antonio Neiwiller
- Claudia Della Seta
- Lorenzo Alessandri
- Raffaella Lebboroni
- Marco Paolini
- Moni Ovadia
- Riccardo Zinna
- Jennifer Beals
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dear Diary about?
- A filmmaker’s scooter rides, island detours, and medical odyssey become a sharply funny self-portrait of artistic restlessness and everyday absurdity.
- What is Dear Diary like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dear Diary as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Dear Diary violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Dear Diary.
- What did critics think of Dear Diary?
- Critics broadly view the film as an inventive, witty autobiographical essay whose episodic form and Moretti’s persona offer engaging observations despite unevenness.
- Which films are like Dear Diary?
- Films with a similar feel include 8½, The Beaches of Agnès, and The Voyage of Monsieur Perrichon.
- How long is Dear Diary?
- Dear Diary runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dear Diary?
- In United States, Dear Diary streams on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel.
