Italian cinema is picturesque, sensual, real. Heroines - beautiful and emotional Italian women - constitute the most important part of European cinema. Their images, behavior patterns, experiences not only decorate films, but also introduce us to the changing history and culture of Italy, to attitudes towards women, to the role of women in society and to the concept of beauty. Film critic Diana Belova analyzes changes in the images of women in key works of Italian cinema of different eras. The book is published in collaboration with “Elitalia” - Institute of Italian Language and Culture of the Russian Christian Humanitarian Academy (www.centroelitalia.ru).