The Family (1987)

With the background of the XX century Italian history, Carlo, a retired teacher, traces the vicissitudes of his family.

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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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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.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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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

Very emotive

...And I was wondering why. That guy on the Washington Post said the film is boring because "it´s like watching some other´s family album"... On the paper, I´d agree with him, but after watching the movie i have to say that I do not. I guess it has to do with the little, precious details (those long travellings inside the house, for instance: this is a very well directed movie), the humor, the music, with Gassman of course, and with the fact that we´re actually watching the whole life of a man we cannot dislike: the last scene, with the 80 years old Gassman -the grandfather now- posing with all his family for the photo (as in the very first scene, when he´s a baby surrounded by people that will die eventually) has such deep emotional impact, because, I guess, shows finally that life is a trip that inevitably has an end, and where the new ones will occupy the seat of the old ones, and that´s how it should be, and the movie has a sense of calm acceptation of that. In "La famiglia" you see, as Cocteau said, "death doing her work". It´s true that the story seems to have no point, but also, I don´t think life has a point. At least I cannot see one...

I really liked this movie. In my opinion, 7/10.