As Italy prepares to unleash its lengthy line-up of Christmas releases on Friday 19th December, the top five films at the Italian box office remained the same for the second consecutive weekend.

The real surprise came from Lost In Translation and The Barbarian Invasions, whose takings increased respectively by 46% and 38% on their second weekend on release.

Up from ninth to sixth, Lost In Translation grossed a further $233,753 from 57 screens, bringing its running total to $634,996. The Sofia Coppola movie also posted a superb screen average of $5,026 - second only to BVI's chart-topping Finding Nemo.

Bim's Barbarian Invasions, meanwhile, rose from 14th to 12th place, posting a solid screen average of $3,616. Denys Arcand's French-Canadian picture, about a dying man who shares his last moments with his ex-wife, his estranged son, ex lovers and old friends, earned a further $97,365 from 38 screens on its second weekend, bringing its total to $272,696.

On the home-front, Paolo Virzi's Caterina In The City, confirmed its status as this season's Italian sleeper hit. Released by Rai Cinema's label 01 Distribution, the comedy has now grossed $4,560,186 two months after its release.