A Special Day (1977)

Two neighbors, a persecuted journalist and a resigned housewife, meet during Hitler's visit to Italy in May 1938.

Director:

Ettore Scola

Writers:

Ruggero Maccari (screenplay), Ettore Scola (screenplay)

Stars:

Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, John Vernon

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sophia Loren	...	Antonietta Taberi
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Gabriele
John Vernon	...	Emanuele Taberi
Françoise Berd	...	Concierge
Patrizia Basso	...	Romana Taberi
Tiziano De Persio	...	Arnaldo Taberi
Maurizio Di Paolantonio	...	Fabio Taberi
Antonio Garibaldi	...	Littorio Taberi
Vittorio Guerrieri	...	Umberto Taberi
Alessandra Mussolini	...	Maria Luisa Taberi
Nicole Magny	...	Officer's Daughter

Storyline

It's the late 1930's Rome. It's a national holiday in Italy today for the first state visit of Adolf Hitler to the country. The occasion is being marked by a lavish parade with both Hitler and Benito Mussolini to celebrate their political friendship/alliance in the name of fascism. Most of the Roman populace will attend the parade to celebrate with their leader. Two that will not be are the following. Antonietta Taberi, who would have liked to have gone to the parade, has to stay at home to attend to her domestic chores in duty to her husband Emanuele and their six children, all who have gone to the parade without her. Gabriele is a former announcer on Italian Public Radio. Despite living in the same apartment complex (Gabriele only for the last two months) with their apartment windows facing each other across the courtyard, Antonietta and Gabriele meet for the first time today in Antonietta's need to access his apartment to retrieve her escaped myna bird. Their encounter is important...

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Plot Keywords:

housewife | italian fascism | homosexuality | fascism | italy | 

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Taglines:

A special film about two special people.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy Canada

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

October 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Special Day

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion, Canafox Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film takes place on May 8, 1938.

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Goofs

In one scene, Antonietta is humming the song "Mamma" by Benjamino Gigli, but that wasn't released until two years later, in 1940.

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Quotes

Arnaldo Taberi: [singing] Those Serbs would grab Dalmatia but we won't let that pass, If they try to take it we'll kick 'em in the ass...
Antonietta: You and your filthy language!
Arnaldo Taberi: It's the patriotic song we learned for the parade.
Antonietta: It's still vulgar.

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Connections

Featured in Ridendo e scherzando - Ritratto di un regista all'italiana (2015)

User Reviews

Great performances, great story, great photography. A treat.

Just loved it. A bit tired of the so called Italian comedies, where overacting is the rule and characters are way too close to parody, I found in this movie the necessary counterpoint to that kind of easy, predictable cinema which is so popular. So popular that even Mr Mastroianni and Mrs Loren are better know for their roles in any of those movies than for their amazing performances in a little jewel like this one. Because that's what this film is: a little jewel. Simple and discreet, yet complex and rich. The plot is quite straight forward, but that's not the point. What's important here is not the story in itself, but the way it's told. Behind the rough appearance, a lot of technical thinking, ideas, decisions. Beautiful performances, studied photography, surprising soundtrack: nothing is left to chance here, though it might seem so. That's what makes masterpieces so special: they look light but they are loaded with humanity. PS- Loved also the comment by the self declared Art Barbarian. At least the guy's aware of his condition! Mamma mia