Ferdinando e Carolina (1999)

On his death bed in the 1820s, King Ferdinando I of Naples tries to escape the ghosts of his bloody kingship by remembering his younger days, when he was allowed to go hunting and have fun,... See full summary »

Director:

Lina Wertmüller

Writers:

Raffaele La Capria, Lina Wertmüller

Stars:

Sergio Assisi, Gabriella Pession, Nicole Grimaudo

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sergio Assisi	...	Ferdinando I Borbone
Gabriella Pession	...	Maria Carolina d'Asburgo
Nicole Grimaudo	...	Princess of Medina
Adriano Pantaleo	...	Ferdinando I Borbone (child)
Lola Pagnani	...	Sara Goudar
Carlo Caprioli	...	Emperor Giuseppe d'Asburgo
Moira Grassi	...	Countess S. Marco
Vanessa Sabet	...	Maria Giuseppa
Matt Patresi	...	Angelo Goudar
Yari Gugliucci	...	Gennarino Rivelli
Lucilla Vacondìo	...	Lady Stratfordshire
Elena Presti	...	Princess of Floridia
Paolo De Giorgio	...	Principe di Caramanico
Giuseppe Bottiglieri	...	Giacomo Goudar
Giuliano Amatucci	...	Fedele

Storyline

On his death bed in the 1820s, King Ferdinando I of Naples tries to escape the ghosts of his bloody kingship by remembering his younger days, when he was allowed to go hunting and have fun, and inventing love games. Then he was obliged to marry Mary Caroline of Austria, daughter of Empress Mary Theresa, in a political marriage: unexpectedly, they became happy lovers, until court power games divided them, and a different historical season arrived.

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | marriage | mutiny | italian history | 18th century | 

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Genres:

Comedy | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

User Reviews

Stylish historical romp is one of its director's best films.

The eighteenth century king of Naples lies dying and we trigger flashbacks of his life played as a bawdy romp.

Vintage Wertmuller - the handsomest film she has done with shuttered sun falling over palatial interiors and mobs of impressively costumed servants, courtesans and officials milling round the historical monuments and manicured lawns. The compressed form is remarkable, as when finally a cut puts the dying king's memory of the twenty year old naked Princess against a flash of her, aged, black veiled, long deceased, being dumped in the bed beside him. The women are presented gorgeously, juxtaposed with the comic, plain featured lead. The sinister side can just be spotted flashing by.

A lot of it needs more knowledge of Italian history than most viewers will bring to it - "Culture is the weapon that will return Naples to Spain."

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

2 April 1999 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Ferdinando and Carolina

Filming Locations:

Caserta, Campania, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Immagine e Cinema, Canal+, Medusa Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1