Italian critics welcomed it very favorably. Fabio Ferzetti in "Il Messaggero", wrote: “One of this season’s most beautiful Italian films -and not only this season’s”. The critic then praised both the “extraordinary alchemy of the protagonists” who give themselves “without reservations to the characters, yet always maintain perfect control” and the script, “which condenses entire worlds in a single one-liner, offering non-trivial food for thought in the slew of misunderstandings between these two women, who represent two irreconcilable Italies”. "La Pazza Gioia" won 5 Nastri d’Argento and obtained an impressive 17 David di Donatello nominations, winning five prizes including the Best Film Award and the Best Director Award.