Family Portrait (1962)

1945. Enrico Corsi, in Rome, reflects on his relationship with his eight year younger brother, Lorenzo Corsi, following Lorenzo's recent passing from a long and debilitating illness at age ... See full summary »

Director:

Valerio Zurlini

Writers:

Vasco Pratolini (novel), Valerio Zurlini (screenplay)

Stars:

Marcello Mastroianni, Jacques Perrin, Sylvie

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Enrico
Jacques Perrin	...	Lorenzo
Sylvie	...	Grandmother
Salvo Randone	...	Salocchi
Valeria Ciangottini	...	Enzina
Serena Vergano	...	Hospital Nun
Marcella Valeri
Franca Pasut
Marco Guglielmi	...	Hospital Doctor
Nino Fuscagni
Miranda Campa

Storyline

1945. Enrico Corsi, in Rome, reflects on his relationship with his eight year younger brother, Lorenzo Corsi, following Lorenzo's recent passing from a long and debilitating illness at age twenty-seven in Florence. Their mother passed away days after Lorenzo's birth due to complications from the childbirth exacerbated by illness. With their veteran father still in hospital at the time unable to care for the children, Lorenzo was taken in by Sig. Salocchi, the butler of a wealthy English baron, literally to be raised as his and his wife's son in privilege, while Enrico remained with their maternal grandmother in relative poverty. The brothers did not truly get to spend time with and get to know each other until 1935 when Lorenzo was on the cusp of adulthood. For Enrico, theirs ended up being a largely strained but still loving relationship. Despite growing up in wealth, Lorenzo, who longed for what Enrico had, namely a history with blood relations, was unable to cope with real life ...

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Plot Keywords:

italy | illness | grandmother | unemployment | florence italy | 

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Taglines:

Years from now this is the film you will remember Mastroianni for.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the later sequence in the hospital, there are hairs on the film in several scenes.

User Reviews

A fairy tale in reverse..

Two brothers ;one of them,after his mother's death (she died during the birth)is taken in by a rich man,the other has to manage .But things will not turn out as expected.

The movie is a long flashback ,Enrico's somber meditation on his young brother's fate ,whom he only saw sporadically.There are a lot of holes in the plot,probably the weakest link of an unusual film.Mastroianni and Perrin (hardly 21) give strong performances which allow the movie to avoid pathos and melodrama.They are given strong support by madame Sylvie,as their grand-mother.What will strike you in Zurlini's film is the total absence of happiness,in the world which has forgot what it is to be happy:even the scene at the restaurant where the two boys invite their grandma is downright depressing;later the money the old lady gives to her grandson leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.All the scenes in the hospital are harsh,and may repel some.

It was the second time Zurlini and Perrin had teamed up,after "la ragazza con la valiglia".The last time ,in 1976,was the making of their masterpiece (Zurlini:director;Perrin:producer and actor) " Il deserto dei Tartari" from Buzatti's eponymous novel.

"Cronica familiare" is a movie that deserves to be watched,unless you're down in the dumps.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

2 March 1963 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Family Portrait

Filming Locations:

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Titanus, Metro

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1