Love in the City (1953)

Six separate episodes: would-be suicides discuss their despair. A provincial dance hall. An investigative reporter posing as a husband-to-be. A young unwed mother. Girl-watching techniques of Italian men. A glimpse into prostitution.

Directors:

Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini

Writers:

Aldo Buzzi (segment), Luigi Chiarini (segment)

Stars:

Rita Josa, Rosanna Carta, Enrico Pelliccia

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rita Josa	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Rosanna Carta	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Enrico Pelliccia	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Donatella Marrosu	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Paolo Pacetti	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Nella Bertuccioni	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Lilia Nardi	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Lena Rossi	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Maria Nobili	...	(segment "Tentato suicidio")
Antonio Cifariello	...	Giornalista (segment "Agenzia matrimoniale, Un'")
Livia Venturini	...	(segment "Agenzia matrimoniale, Un'")
Maresa Gallo	...	(segment "Agenzia matrimoniale, Un'")
Angela Pierro	...	(segment "Agenzia matrimoniale, Un'")
Rita Andreana	...	(segment "Agenzia matrimoniale, Un'")
Lia Natali	...	(segment "Agenzia matrimoniale, Un'")

Storyline

Six separate episodes: would-be suicides discuss their despair. A provincial dance hall. An investigative reporter posing as a husband-to-be. A young unwed mother. Girl-watching techniques of Italian men. A glimpse into prostitution.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | dancing | breaking the fourth wall | big city life | love | 

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Taglines:

A daring new film experience... Made without fear...without taboos!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

27 November 1953 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Love in the City

Filming Locations:

Baretto, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Faro Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At 27 minutes, 'Cesare Zavattini' and 'Umberto Maselli''s fifth segment, "Story of Caterina", is the longest while Carlo Lizzani's opener "Paid Love" is the shortest at 11 minutes. Running times of the remaining segments are 22 minutes for Michelangelo Antonioni's "Attempted Suicide", 12 minutes for Dino Risi's "Paradise for Three Hours", 16 minutes for Federico Fellini's "Marriage Agency" and 14 minutes for Alberto Lattuada's "Italians Stare".

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.11 (2011)

User Reviews

Very well done

I saw L'Amore in Citta as part of my Fellini quest. And I have to say that I found the film very interesting. Separated into five segments by five different directors, it is charming, sometimes heart breaking and I was always intrigued. All the segments are filmed absolutely beautifully especially Fellini's and Lattuada's. The music is always great, ranging from nostalgic(Rissi), bright(Fellini, though nostalgic comes under him also) and poetic(Lattuada). Of the segments my personal favourite is Lattuada's, especially for the beautiful scoring and the poetic ending. Rissi's is also very charming, very simple story but beautiful everywhere else. My least favourite, though still good, is Zavattini's, I love the climax which is very touching, as is the scene with the mother on the edge of the fountain, but found the very ending jarring compared with the scene before it and the rest of the neorealistic feel of the segment. Antonioni's documentary-like approach is interesting and the interviews are fascinating, not just the subject matter but also what there is to say. I saw L'Amore in Citta for Fellini, and apart from an ending that I think could have had more to it he doesn't disappoint. The beautiful visuals, deliberate pacing, nostalgic yet mystical story telling and colourful music are all there, and Fellini's poetic and quite ambitious style is as distinctive as you would expect. All in all, a very well done film. 8/10 Bethany Cox