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Così ridevano

  • 19981998
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
789
YOUR RATING
Così ridevano (1998)
  • Drama
Turin at the end of the fifties: two brothers have emigrated there from Sicily and the older works very hard to let the younger study and free himself from poverty through culture. The boy h... Read allTurin at the end of the fifties: two brothers have emigrated there from Sicily and the older works very hard to let the younger study and free himself from poverty through culture. The boy however is not keen on school and would like to begin to work. When after some time he gets... Read allTurin at the end of the fifties: two brothers have emigrated there from Sicily and the older works very hard to let the younger study and free himself from poverty through culture. The boy however is not keen on school and would like to begin to work. When after some time he gets his degree however things take a violent and dramatic turn......
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
789
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gianni Amelio
  • Writers
    • Gianni Amelio
    • Alberto Taraglio(uncredited)
    • Laura Pariani(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Francesco Giuffrida
    • Enrico Lo Verso
    • Fabrizio Gifuni
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gianni Amelio
  • Writers
    • Gianni Amelio
    • Alberto Taraglio(uncredited)
    • Laura Pariani(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Francesco Giuffrida
    • Enrico Lo Verso
    • Fabrizio Gifuni
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 14 nominations

    Photos12

    Così ridevano (1998)
    Enrico Lo Verso in Così ridevano (1998)
    Enrico Lo Verso in Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)
    Francesco Giuffrida in Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)
    Così ridevano (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Francesco Giuffrida
    • Pietroas Pietro
    Enrico Lo Verso
    Enrico Lo Verso
    • Giovannias Giovanni
    Fabrizio Gifuni
    Fabrizio Gifuni
    • Pelaiaas Pelaia
    Calogero Caruana
    • Amico di Giovannias Amico di Giovanni
    Roberto Marzo
    • Amico di Giovannias Amico di Giovanni
    Davide Negro
    • Amico di Giovannias Amico di Giovanni
    Giorgio Pittau
    • Amico di Giovannias Amico di Giovanni
    Pasqualino Vona
    • Amico di Giovannias Amico di Giovanni
    Giuseppe Zarbano
    • Amico di Giovannias Amico di Giovanni
    Giuliano Spadaro
    • Padre della famiglia foggianaas Padre della famiglia foggiana
    Patrizia Marino
    • Madre foggianaas Madre foggiana
    Giuseppe Sangari
    • Figlioas Figlio
    Francesca Monchiero
    • Figliaas Figlia
    Giorgia Scuderi
    • Assuntinaas Assuntina
    Salvatore Refano
    • Il vecchio sicilianoas Il vecchio siciliano
    Maria Torranova
    • La ziaas La zia
    Antonino Trigilia
    • Lo zioas Lo zio
    Michele Trigilia
    • Il cuginoas Il cugino
    • Director
      • Gianni Amelio
    • Writers
      • Gianni Amelio
      • Alberto Taraglio(uncredited)
      • Laura Pariani(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The title refers to the back page of a popular 1950s Italian magazine which had a section devoted to old jokes that were no longer funny but still evoked a sense of nostalgia. One such joke is repeated throughout the film: "How do you get four elephants in a Fiat?" The answer: "Two in front and two in back".
    • Quotes

      Giovanni: You think your children are your own, then they learn to walk and they leave you. Know what they say back home? "Raise hogs, 'cause then you can eat them"

    • Connections
      Referenced in Cannes Paradise (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Cucara cha cha cha
      Written by Tony Vargas and Pepe Villa

      Performed by Dámaso Pérez Prado

      Courtesy of Peer International Corp./Edizioni Peersongs Italy Srl

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A soulful and captivating film
    Just released on DVD, Gianni Amelio's 1998 film The Way We Laughed is a heartfelt chronicle of the fortunes of two brothers over a six-year period in postwar Italy that parallels the growth of the country from an agricultural to an urbanized, industrial society. Winner of the Grand Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival, the film derives its title from its constant reference to old-fashioned jokes on the back page of an Italian magazine from the fifties. Though I do not feel it is quite on the same level as Amelio's earlier work (L'America, Stolen Children), The Way We Laughed is a soulful and captivating film that evokes a world little remembered except in the great Italian neo-realism films from the 40s and 50s. But the film is far from being a historical or political drama. As Sokurov explored the complex relationships between mothers and fathers and their sons in his Russian films, Amelio investigates the bond between brothers and the issues that result from self-sacrifice in a close-knit Italian family.

    The film is separated into six parts labeled "Arrivals," "Deceptions," "Money," "Letters," "Blood" and "Families", each taking place on one day during the period from 1958 to 1964. While this technique allows us to understand the events taking place in Italy during this period, the sudden changes in the lives of the characters is difficult to follow and we are left having to put the pieces of the puzzle together on our own. As the film opens, Giovanni (Enrico Lo Verso), a poor illiterate worker arrives from Sicily to visit his teenage brother Pietro (Francesco Giuffrida) in the industrial north of Italy who is studying to become a teacher. Determined that his brother Pietro will get a good education, he decides to remain in Turin to support him.

    It is clear from the outset that all is not well with Pietro. He hides behind a pillar at the train station rather than meeting his brother, then goes out of way to help a Sicilan family who are lost until he finally gives up in disgust. He is very handsome but there is a haunted look in his eyes and it is never clear what his secrets are. Giovanni, magnificently portrayed by Lo Verso, is quite different. He is a giving person -- open and warm hearted. He sacrifices for Pietro, working low paying menial jobs but the younger brother seems unmotivated and does not take studying very seriously. Their love is not at issue, but each has an idealized picture of the other and they never fully come to grips with each other's reality.

    As the years go by, Giovanni begins to move up the economic ladder and becomes a low-level Supervisor, then the boss of a cooperative. Pietro meanwhile has gone to a private teacher and has received his degree. The brothers remain close but when Pietro witnesses Giovanni getting into a fight with a presumed underworld figure, the consequences that result from self-sacrifice and the betrayal of morality are explored in a powerful conclusion. Like Giovanni's rise to a position of power through suggested shady dealings, The Way We Laughed seems to be saying that as modern Western societies have become rich, they have arrogantly forgotten the values it took them to get there.
    helpful•8
    1
    • howard.schumann
    • Feb 2, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 1998 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • French
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Así reían
    • Filming locations
      • Turin, Piedmont, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
      • Presidenza del Consiglio del Ministri-Dipartimento dello Spettacolo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $57,009
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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