| The Little Devil | |
| Director: | Roberto Benigni |
| Producer: | Mauro Berardi Mario Cecchi Gori Vittorio Cecchi Gori |
| Starring: | Roberto Benigni Walter Matthau |
| Music: | Evan Lurie |
| Cinematography: | Robby Müller |
| Editing: | Nino Baragli |
| Studio: | Cecchi Gori Group |
| Distributor: | Columbia Tri-Star Films Italia |
| Runtime: | 110 min. |
| Country: | Italy |
| Language: | Italian and English |
The Little Devil (original Italian name Il piccolo diavolo) is a 1988 Italian surreal comedy film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, also starring Walter Matthau, Stefania Sandrelli, Nicoletta Braschi and John Lurie.
In Australia and some European countries, an English-language version of the film, with local subtitles, has been screened and circulated on VHS. In the English version, the voices of the main actors have been dubbed by themselves; some scenes might have been filmed in both languages.
In the North American Pontifical College in Rome, Father Maurice is in deep turmoil because of Patricia, a woman who loves him and expects him to make up his mind regarding his intentions toward her. While making an attempt, he is summoned by a novice for an emergency, that of an overweight woman possessed by a demon. Father Maurice performs the rite of exorcism, expelling the demon from the woman.
The demon, an escaped little devil named Giuditta, not wanting to return whence he came, starts following Father Maurice everywhere and often indulges in mischief, sometimes innocently getting Father Maurice into trouble. Father Maurice fails several times to get rid of Giuditta, who, in one instance, replaces an ill Father Maurice at Mass, turning the solemn ceremony into a fashion parade. Seeing that he is showing signs of exhaustion, Father Maurice's peers advise him to take a vacation. Eventually, another agent "from the same place as Giuditta" appears and manages to attract Giuditta, who finally leaves Maurice and follows her "elsewhere".
Roberto Benigni won the David di Donatello Award for Best Actor.