Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Pupella Maggio | ... | Miranda |
Armando Brancia | ... | Aurelio | |
Magali Noël | ... | Gradisca (as Magali' Noel) | |
Ciccio Ingrassia | ... | Teo | |
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Nando Orfei | ... | Patacca |
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Luigi Rossi | ... | Lawyer |
Bruno Zanin | ... | Titta | |
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Gianfilippo Carcano | ... | Baravelli |
Josiane Tanzilli | ... | La Volpina | |
Maria Antonietta Beluzzi | ... | Tobacconist | |
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Giuseppe Ianigro | ... | Grandpa |
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Ferruccio Brembilla | ... | Fascist |
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Antonino Faà di Bruno | ... | Count (as Antonino Faa' Di Bruno) |
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Mauro Misul | ... | Philosophy Professor |
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Ferdinando Villella | ... | Prof. Fighetta |
One year in a small northern Italian coastal town in the late 1930s is presented. The slightly off-kilter cast of characters are affected by time and location, the social mores dictated largely by Catholicism and the national fervor surrounding Il Duce aka Benito Mussolini and Fascism. The stories loosely center on a mid-teen named Titta and his household including his adolescent brother, his ever supportive mother who is always defending him against his father, his freeloading maternal Uncle Lallo, and his paternal grandfather who slyly has eyes and hands for the household maid. Other townsfolk include: Gradisca, the town beauty, who can probably have any man she wants, but generally has no one as most think she out of their league; Volpina, the prostitute; Giudizio, the historian; a blind accordionist; and an extremely buxom tobacconist. The several vignettes presented include: the town bonfire in celebration of spring; life at Titta's school with his classmates and teachers; ... Written by Huggo
Federico Fellini's "Amardord" is a series of sketches about his youth in a seaside town Rimini in the 1930s. In this regard it reminds another favorite film of mine, "Fellini's Roma". After repeat viewing, I can understand why many viewers may not like Fellini, especially his so called "later films" "Amarcord" may seem too crowded, too loud, too vulgar, too bawdy, and too self-indulgent. It is all true, it is. But so is life loud but tender, vulgar but touching, self-indulgent but full of humor, love and compassion to the film's eccentric characters. It's been said a lot about memorable scenes and images in "Amarcord": yes, the famous peacock that spreads its plumage on the snow, a magnificent ocean liner that is been greeted by the townspeople, a local tobacconist a woman of such size and proportions that it could be simply dangerous for the teenage boys to try and make their dreams about her come true. I love "Amarcord" always have perhaps, Fellini played all the right notes for me or more likely, Nino Rota wrote his best musical score for the film which could be the best score ever. My favorite image in the film Gradisca's (local beautician) walk accompanied by Rota's music. What is it in the way Italian women walk, the way their hips sway? Monica Belucci in "Malena", Sofia Lauren in "Marriage Italian Style"? And Magali Noël as object of every man's in Rimini desire Gradisca ("Help Yourself").
Wonderful film by the power of his magic, by the light of his memory, the great master saved the town where he was young and happy. We can visit it as often as we'd like and it won't go away and disappear - Fellini's Rimini is captured forever.
9.5/10