The Dinner (1998)
"La cena" (original title)

An evening at an Italian restaurant. Hosted by tolerant and relaxed Flora, various parties of middle-class people come in -- large and small, young and old, regulars and tourists, married ... See full summary »

Director:

Ettore Scola

Writers:

Ettore Scola (story), Ettore Scola,

Stars:

Fanny Ardant, Antonio Catania, Francesca d'Aloja

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fanny Ardant	...	Flora
Antonio Catania	...	Mago Adam
Francesca d'Aloja	...	Alessandra
Riccardo Garrone	...	Diomede
Vittorio Gassman	...	Maestro Pezzullo
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Professore
Marie Gillain	...	Allieva
Nello Mascia	...	Menghini
Adalberto Maria Merli	...	Bricco
Corrado Olmi	...	Arturo
Eros Pagni	...	Duilio
Daniela Poggi
Rolando Ravello
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Isabella
Stefano Antonucci

Storyline

An evening at an Italian restaurant. Hosted by tolerant and relaxed Flora, various parties of middle-class people come in -- large and small, young and old, regulars and tourists, married and single -- to dine, converse, argue, celebrate, make confessions; to overhear other people's discussions, to interrupt them, to sing, listen to music, and enjoy life. The camera, just like the people, moves constantly from table to table, into the kitchen and the back room to observe the staff's petty jealousies and frustrations -- until two hours later it's time for everybody to go home.

---

Plot Keywords:

italian restaurant | restaurant | italian music | real time | waiter | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

MEDUSA FILM - LA CENA

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

27 November 1998 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Dinner

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmtel, France 3 Cinéma, Les Films Alain Sarde

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Wonderful!

Only 12 votes before mine? How could it be? Well, the movie is really one of the best I've ever seen. Scola directs his actors just like a great orchestra, keeping the action always in the same place, and following it almost in real time (I mean, 2 hours of movie to describe 2 hours in the life of the characters). So the film make you see an evening in the life of different people (with their stories, their problems, their loves), that have nothing in common one with each other but the place they're in, a restaurant. And all this is shown with a look that's funny and sad at the same time. A great construction of the director, supported by a gorgeous cast!