City of Women (1980)

A businessman finds himself trapped at a hotel and threatened by women en masse.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story), Bernardino Zapponi (story)

Stars:

Marcello Mastroianni, Anna Prucnal, Bernice Stegers

6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Snàporaz
Anna Prucnal	...	Elena
Bernice Stegers	...	Woman on train
Jole Silvani	...	Motorcyclist (as Iole Silvani)
Donatella Damiani	...	Donatella (Woman on roller skates)
Ettore Manni	...	Dr. Xavier Katzone
Fiammetta Baralla	...	Oliver Hardy
Hélène Calzarelli	...	Feminist (as Hélène G. Calzarelli)
Catherine Carrel	...	Commandant
Marcello Di Falco	...	Slave
Silvana Fusacchia	...	Skater
Gabriella Giorgelli	...	Fishwoman of San Leo
Dominique Labourier	...	Feminist
Stéphane Emilfork	...	Feminist
Sylvie Matton	...	Feminist (as Sylvie Mayer)

Storyline

Marcello is in the compartment of an Italian train, facing forward when the mineral water of the woman seated across from him starts to fall toward him. He catches the bottle and makes eye contact and follows her when she leaves the compartment. For a few moments she finds him attractive too. Then suddenly she gets off the train and starts walking through a field. Marcello follows her, loses her, finds himself in a large hotel surrounded by women. A feminist conference is taking place and he tries to escape.

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Plot Keywords:

train | man with glasses | adult humor | nudity | female nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

8 April 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

City of Women

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,244, 21 February 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,244, 21 February 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Opera Film Produzione, Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 74981 delivered on 27-3-1980.

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Goofs

When Mastroianni is following Bernice Stegers in the woods in the beginning of the movie, reflection of the crew can be seen clearly in her sunglasses.

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Quotes

Old Lady: "A house without a woman", they say in my parts, "is like the Sea without a Siren". Don't you agree with me?

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Connections

Referenced in Travelling with Fellini Through 'The City of Women' (2001)

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Soundtracks

The Visitors
(uncredited)
Composed by Gino Soccio

User Reviews

surrealism. and not only

It is not the best Fellini. but it is an useful one. for the fantasies, for references to early films, for Mastroianni, for the use of fears, taboos and grotesque, for the mix of kitsch, fantasies and stereotypes, for the disco music and for the toys and tools of an eerie. it is a not comfortable film. too long, too eccentric, too ambiguous, too strange. but it has a bizarre art of seduction. and, maybe, this is the lead trait defining it. not a satire against feminism and machismo, but a remind of the roots of the crisis for contemporary world. and that did not it a great movie but only an useful one. for the precise verdict. for the meeting with images from nightmares with potential to be bricks of near reality. and for many other reasons. too familiar after 38 de ani from the birth of "La citta delle donne".