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

Marcello Mastroianni's character, Gabriele, is partially based on Nunzio Filogamo, an Italian radio broadcaster and presenter. During the 1930s, Filogamo was persecuted by the Fascist regime for his homosexuality, but he was so popular with the Italian people that the government couldn't fire him or deport him. Instead, Filogamo was required to carry a medical card stating that he was not a homosexual (as Gabriele mentions he is required to do in the film).

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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

Emanuele Taberi: A cold dinner. Didn't do a thing all day, did you?
Antonietta: Wasn't it a national holiday?
Emanuele Taberi: And you stayed home in bed.

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Connections

Referenced in La tarea (1991)

User Reviews

A WONDER OF REFINEMENT

This film literally took my breath away ! Both Mastroianni and Loren are fantastic actors, who can express a whole range of human feelings in just a look or a silence. This film is an unbelievable contrast : simplicity and sobriety in form but ultimate sophistication in content and in the actors' performance. I have never seen a film which raises so many questions at the same time : war, family, tolerance, women's condition, fanaticism, homosexuality, etc. Furthermore, it is a wonderful love story between two people who are actually too good for the world they live in. And last but not least, the contrast between the scruffy apartments and the beauty and elegance of Mastroianni and Loren is incredible. Mr. Scola achieved a masterpiece without make up, special effects or wonderful sceneries. When you have seen the film, you will understand that the special day was not for Mussolini and Hitler, who all the sudden seem very unimportant compared to what happened to the two characters. The day I have seen this film was definitely a special day for me as well, unforgettable ! It is just the most human film I have ever seen, a wonder of refinement.