The Family (1987)

Traces events in the life of Carlo, from his christening in 1906, where his grandfather reminds his father that Carlo means "free man," to his 80th birthday party. The film principally ... See full summary »

Director:

Ettore Scola

Writers:

Graziano Diana (dialogue), Ruggero Maccari (story)

Stars:

Vittorio Gassman, Fanny Ardant, Stefania Sandrelli

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 24 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emanuele Lamaro	...	Carlo, as a child
Andrea Occhipinti	...	Carlo as a young man
Vittorio Gassman	...	Carlo, as a man / Carlo's grandfather
Cecilia Dazzi	...	Beatrice, as a girl
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Beatrice
Jo Champa	...	Adriana as a young woman
Fanny Ardant	...	Adriana
Joska Versari	...	Giulio, as a child
Alberto Gimignani	...	Giulio, as a boy
Massimo Dapporto	...	Giulio, as a young man
Carlo Dapporto	...	Giulio, as a man
Consuelo Pascali	...	Adelina, as a child
Ilaria Stuppia	...	Adelina, as a girl
Ottavia Piccolo	...	Adelina
Athina Cenci	...	Aunt Margherita

Storyline

Traces events in the life of Carlo, from his christening in 1906, where his grandfather reminds his father that Carlo means "free man," to his 80th birthday party. The film principally explores his relationships with younger brother Guilio, with wife Beatrice, and with her sister Adriana, whom Carlo loved as a young man.

---

Plot Keywords:

italy | role played by multiple actors | actor playing multiple roles | single set production | pasta | 

---

Taglines:

In 1906 Carlo was born into a very large family, a family of artists and lovers, spinsters and fools. Now he's 80...and they're all coming to dinner.

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian French Hungarian

Release Date:

December 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Family

Box Office

Gross USA:

$346,730

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinecittà, Massfilm, Cinémax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Portraits chinois (1996)

User Reviews

Wonderful Italian movie.

A great movie by master of Italian cinema, Ettore Scola, the director of C'eravamo tanti amati, La cena and Le Bal. This film is a wonderful insight view of the ups and downs of a middle class family, how everybody grows, makes his own family, the good and the bad moments, crisis and celebrations. Vittorio Gassmann delights with his portrait of Carlo, a Literature professor whose life is rather plain but fulfilled with the stories of everybody else in his house, his family. Also Fanny Ardant and Stephania Sandrelli do a great job as two sisters who fall in love with the same man, and try to live with that pain inside, putting family respect before anything else.