Manuale d'amore (2005)

Four intertwined episodes on the joys and sorrows of love.

Director:

Giovanni Veronesi

Writers:

Vincenzo Cerami (story), Ugo Chiti (screenplay)

Stars:

Carlo Verdone, Luciana Littizzetto, Silvio Muccino

10 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Carlo Verdone	...	Goffredo
Luciana Littizzetto	...	Ornella
Silvio Muccino	...	Tommaso
Sergio Rubini	...	Marco
Margherita Buy	...	Barbara
Jasmine Trinca	...	Giulia
Rodolfo Corsato	...	Alberto Marchese
Dino Abbrescia	...	Gabriele
Dario Bandiera	...	Piero
Luis Molteni	...	Goffredo's lawyer
Sabrina Impacciatore	...	Luciana
Anita Caprioli	...	Livia
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elda Alvigini	...	Rosanna
Roberto Andreucci	...	Ornella's lawyer
Lavinia Biagi	...	Miriam

Storyline

Four intertwined episodes on the joys and sorrows of love.

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Plot Keywords:

love | male female relationship | husband wife relationship | marital crisis | love at first sight | 

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Taglines:

A comedy in Italian

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

18 March 2005 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Manual of Love

Filming Locations:

Piazza Navona, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

€2,783,084 (Italy), 20 March 2005, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmauro

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Manuale d'amore 2 (Capitoli successivi) (2007)

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Soundtracks

Noite e Luar
Written by Paolo Buonvino
Performed by Patrizia Laquidara

User Reviews

Italian comedy strikes back

Considering that Italian comedy is kind of limited to 2 or 3 movies during the Christmas holidays,and that some of them are quite good (the ones with Leonardo Pieraccioni and Aldo,Giovanni & Giacomo)and some aren't (the Boldi & De Sica-movies),Manuale d'Amore was a bit of a surprise: released in March 2005,with a quite unknown director(Giovanni Veronesi,better known as a screenwriter,who was also behind Che Ne Sarà di Noi),a famous cast although only two actors were professional comedians (Carlo Verdone and Luciana Littizzetto),and a 4 episode-plot,reminiscent of classic Italian comedies,as well as Verdone's early films.

The story is simple but interesting,as it shows 4 different phases of love: 1.Tommaso (Silvio Muccino) falls desperately in love with Giulia (Jasmine Trinca)and spends the rest of the episode trying to get her; 2.Marco (Sergio Rubini) and Barbara (Margherita Buy) are a married couple in the middle of a crisis,and the whole situation is made funnier by the fact that the two actors were married in real life; 3.Ornella (Luciana Littizzetto) finds out that her husband is unfaithful and swears revenge; 4.Goffredo (Carlo Verdone)is suddenly left by his wife and tries to go on with his life,which won't be easy.

Veronesi tells the story in a very classic way (there are even characters commenting the events straight to camera),without using too much bad language (typical of the mediocre Christmas comedies)or any scenes of graphic nudity.

The cast is excellent: Muccino is one step closer to the stardom he deserves,Trinca,Buy and Rubini should do more comedies,while Littizzetto should do more movies. The real surprise,however,is Verdone,whose mature portrayal of an abandoned husband is miles away from his early,sketch-originated characters.His episode is a perfect mix of comedy and drama,and he deserved every bit of the David di Donatello he won for his performance(Best Actor in a Supporting Role).

So,if you want to watch a good Italian comedy,Manuale d'Amore is recommended.