Ettore Scola (1931–2016) was one of the most prominent Italian filmmakers of the postwar era. Heir to the great traditions of commedia all'italiana, whose norms he reinvented, he melded humor, melancholy, and political insight with keen precision. A filmmaker of memory, nostalgia and the passage of time, Scola observed people, their dreams, and their disillusionment, as they were tested by History. Through friendships, lovers and family relations, he chronicled chaotic chapters of contemporary Italy with profound humanity. Debuting as a screenwriter for Dino Risi, Antonio Pietrangeli, Luigi Comencini and Mauro Bolognini, he turned toward directing in the mid-1960s, collaborating with the most iconic artists of the day: Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Vittorio Gassman, Stefania Sandrelli, Nino Manfredi, Monica Vitti or Alberto Sordi. He was at the origin of landmark works of Italian cinema, from We All Loved Each Other So Much (1974) to A Special Day (1977), to Ugly, Dirty and Bad (1976). This revival encourages audiences to rediscover the extraordinary richness of his œuvre, where social satire meets the most intimate emotions.
Our thanks to Carlotta Films, Cineteca di Bologna, Gaumont, Les Acacias, Les Films du Camélia, LCJ Éditions, Malavida, Park Circus, René Chateau, Sooner, Tamasa
In partnership with the INA, which will present
archives certain screenings.
Oreste (Marcello Mastroianni) leaves his wife for young charming Adelaide (Monica Vitti). Their happiness is short-lived, though, when their good friend (Giancarlo Giannini) falls in love with her… A tragic comedy full of twists and turns, earning Mastroianni the Best Actor prize in Cannes.
En route toward Switzerland, a businessman stops to rest at a château where former magistrates oblige him to endure a strange trial... Italian comedy king Alberto Sordi trades lines with four legends of French cinema: Michel Simon, Charles Vanel, Pierre Brasseur and Claude Dauphin.
Brothers in arms, Antonio (Nino Manfredi), Gianni (Vittorio Gassman) and Nicola (Stefano Satta Flores) experience thirty years of Italian history, Italian stories. A poignant saga on lost illusions, revealing Scola as a preeminent figure of Italian cinema. Stefania Sandrelli also stars.
In a shantytown in the suburbs of Rome, Giacinto (Nino Manfredi) rules over a large family that is after the stash of money he keeps hidden… A biting social satire, it won the Best Director award at Cannes.
While Rome is receiving a visit from Hitler on May 8, 1938, a housewife encounters her neighbor, Gabriele... Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni give excellent performances in one of Scola's most beautiful films.
Longtime friends get together for a party on the lavish terrace of an apartment in Rome. Despite appearances, they are all hiding a deep unease... A sprawling ensemble saga of the failure of a generation.
While Louis XVI attempts to flee, a stagecoach brings together travelers from all walks of life, voicing their ideas on the Revolution... An original interpretation of French history with a first-rate cast, led by Jean-Louis Barrault and Marcello Mastroianni.
Forced to close his movie theater, Jordan reminisces on his childhood, remembering the great moments experienced in his cinema, and his love story with usherette Chantal... A touching ode to cinema, starring Marcello Mastroianni, Marina Vlady and Massimo Troisi.
Marcello pays a visit to his son, Michele. For one day, the two men try to reconnect and rekindle the dialogue... Marcello Mastroianni and Massimo Troisi deliver a beautiful performance full of finesse, winning them both the Best Actor Award at Venice.
After their brothel closes, four prostitutes try to take back their liberty… Co-written by Ettore Scola, it is a jewel of a film, oscillating between neorealism and comedy, starring Simone Signoret, Emmanuelle Riva and Marcello Mastroianni.
Bruno (Vittorio Gassman) forces timid Roberto (Jean-Louis Trintignant) to join a spontaneous road trip... Ettore Scola served as co-writer of this unbridled road movie, one of the crowning achievements of Dino Risi’s filmography.
1943-1997 by Ettore Scola (1997, 9min)
