1977, Film: “Una giornata particolare”

The Italian film "Una gionata particolare" ("A Special Day") premieres on the Cannes film Festival on 17 May 1977. The Italian release followes on 12 August 1977. Directed by Ettore Scola the film stars Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni and John Vernon. The film is an Italian-Canadian co-production, it figures on the list of the 100 Italian films to be saved.

The film is set in Rome in 1938, it follows a woman and her neighbor who stay home the day Adolf Hitler visits Benito Mussolini. A film about war, family, tolerance, women's condition, fanaticism, homosexuality, a story about humanity set in a inhumane fascist background.

Sophia Loren as Antonietta

Synopsis

On 8 May 8 1938 Hitler visits Mussolini in Rome. Antonietta (Sophia Loren) stays home doing domestic tasks while her fascist husband Emanuele and her six children take of to follow the parade. The whole building is empty only Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni), a neighbor across the complex stays at home. Gabriele is a radio broadcaster who has been dismissed and is about to be deported to Sardinia because of his anti-fascist opinion and his homosexuality...

Marcello Mastroianni as Gabriele

Main Cast

• Sophia Loren as Antonietta
• Marcello Mastroianni as Gabriele
• John Vernon as Emanuele
• Françoise Berd as Caretaker
• Patrizia Basso as Romana
• Tiziano De Persio as Arnaldo
• Maurizio Di Paolantonio as Fabio
• Antonio Garibaldi as Littorio
• Vittorio Guerrieri as Umberto
• Alessandra Mussolini as Maria Luisa
• Nicole Magny as Officer's Daughter

Marcello Mastroianni as Gabriele and Sophia Loren as Antonietta

Striking is the cameo of the then 14-year-old Alessandra Mussolini, the granddaughter of the fascist leader and a niece of lead actress Sophia Loren. The son of Benito Mussolini is in fact married to a sister of Sophia Loren. Alessandra plays the role of daughter Maria Luisa.

John Vernon as Emanuele and Alessandra Mussolini as Maria Luisa

Awards

• National Board of Review Award for Top Foreign Film (USA, 1977)
• Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film: Italy (USA, 1978)
• César for Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): Ettore Scola (France, 1978)
• David di Donatello Award for Best Director (Migliore Regia): Ettore Scola (Italy, 1978)
• David di Donatello Award for Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): Sophia Loren (Italy, 1978)
• Golden Globe for Best Film (Miglior Film): Ettore Scola (Italy, 1978)
• Golden Globe for Best Actor (Migliore Attore): Marcello Mastroianni (Italy, 1978)
• Golden Globe for Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): Sophia Loren (Italy, 1978)
• Silver Ribbon (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): Sophia Loren (Italy, 1978)
• Silver Ribbon (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): Maurizio Costanzo, Ruggero Maccari, Ettore Scola (Italy, 1978)
• Silver Ribbon (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for Best Musical Score (Migliore Musica): Armando Trovajoli (Italy, 1978)

English Trailer