Speriamo che sia femmina (1986)

A critique of the role of the male in modern Italian society and has demonstrated the possibility of a form of 'female bonding' between women who live, by choice, in a world without men

Director:

Mario Monicelli

Writers:

Tullio Pinelli (story), Leonardo Benvenuti (screenplay) (as Leo Benvenuti)

Stars:

Liv Ullmann, Catherine Deneuve, Giuliana de Sio

13 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liv Ullmann	...	Elena
Catherine Deneuve	...	Claudia
Giuliana de Sio	...	Franca
Philippe Noiret	...	Leonardo
Giuliano Gemma	...	Nardoni
Bernard Blier	...	Uncle Gugo
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Lolli
Lucrezia Lante della Rovere	...	Malvina
Paolo Hendel	...	Giovannini
Athina Cenci	...	Fosca
Francesca Calò	...	Martina
Simona Cera	...	Irma
Mario Cecchi
Riccardo Diana
Enio Drovandi	...	Don Maurizio

Storyline

Elena lives on a Tuscan farm, separated from her ineffectual husband Leonardo, who is more concerned with his mistress Lolli than his wife or two daughters, Franca and Malvina. This collection of female figures inhabiting a world virtually without men is completed by Elena's sister Claudia and Elena's housekeeper Fosca. The only male in the house is a senile old uncle who spends most of his time knitting. This unusual stable female environment is suddenly shaken by several crises.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

6 February 1986 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Let's Hope It's a Girl

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clemi Cinematografica, Producteurs Associés, Films A2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Telecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Paroles et musique (1984)

User Reviews

Very nice movie, women don't miss this one!

This movie is really a little gem. I need a little effort to defend this argument. It's enough to remember that it is directed by Mario Monicelli, the GREAT director (La Grande Guerra, I soliti Ignoti, Guardie e Ladri, L'Armata Brancaleone and many others), and that it won seven David di Donatello, an important Italian movie award, including best movie and best director.

The cast is also incredible, as it groups together so many European icons: from Sweden Liv Ullman (the protagonist of many Ingmar Bergman movies); from France, the beautiful Catherine Deneuve, and the wonderful actors Philippe Noiret and Bernard Blier; from Italy the divine Stefania Sandrelli, always beautiful and realistic, and the already very very good actress Athina Cenci.

After the cynic "Parenti serpenti", Monicelli again films a portrait of another Italian family. There is not a real protagonist in this movie, the protagonist is the family. There is a lot of fun, but also some thoughtful moments, as always in Monicelli's movies. All the males in this movie end up revealing their egoistic nature or stupidity. A concept that the Italian Comedy of 50s and 60s (which Monicelli belonged to) already expressed and elaborated extensively. The difference here is that there is hope, and this hope resides in women.

I don't want to say that this is a movie just for women. It's fun, it's serious, and it does a very nice homage to women and sisterhood.

I say don't miss this movie, males and females, I am sure you won't regret it.