Antonio Pietrangeli’s masterpiece, one of the most lucid, complex and bitter portraits of a female character in world cinema
Stefania Sandrelli at the top of her splendour, along with two key figures of Italian comedy, Ugo Tognazzi and Nino Manfredi, in a story whose modern style continues to impress
Antonio Pietrangeli’s masterpiece is one of the most lucid, complex and bitter portraits of a female character produced by Italian cinema. Anna (Stefania Sandrelli at her most convincing) travels to Rome from a small town to pursue her dream of becoming a film star. She appears to be a superficial and fickle young woman. As one of her lovers comments: “Everything just slides off her”. In reality, when we get a closer look at her, she is a tragic figure, searching for emancipation in a dishearteningly cynical environment, not far removed from the one portrayed by Fellini in La Dolce Vita. In constructing the story, Pietrangeli’s style is extremely modern and still impresses and engages today: told in episodes and flashbacks it somehow manages to maintain its incredible fluidity. Alongside Sandrelli, two legends of Italian comedy: Nino Manfredi and Ugo Tognazzi, shown by the director at their most poignant best. Music also plays a big role in the film, with a rich selection of songs from the best contemporary Italian pop artists.
A naive small-town girl is waiting for her big break in cinema. She goes from one job to another, from one lover to another, from one disappointment to another, until the only way out that she can see is to throw herself from an open window.
Antonio Pietrangeli’s masterpiece, one of the most lucid, complex and bitter portraits of a female character in world cinema
Stefania Sandrelli at the top of her splendour, along with two key figures of Italian comedy, Ugo Tognazzi and Nino Manfredi, in a story whose modern style continues to impress
Antonio Pietrangeli’s masterpiece is one of the most lucid, complex and bitter portraits of a female character produced by Italian cinema. Anna (Stefania Sandrelli at her most convincing) travels to Rome from a small town to pursue her dream of becoming a film star. She appears to be a superficial and fickle young woman. As one of her lovers comments: “Everything just slides off her”. In reality, when we get a closer look at her, she is a tragic figure, searching for emancipation in a dishearteningly cynical environment, not far removed from the one portrayed by Fellini in La Dolce Vita. In constructing the story, Pietrangeli’s style is extremely modern and still impresses and engages today: told in episodes and flashbacks it somehow manages to maintain its incredible fluidity. Alongside Sandrelli, two legends of Italian comedy: Nino Manfredi and Ugo Tognazzi, shown by the director at their most poignant best. Music also plays a big role in the film, with a rich selection of songs from the best contemporary Italian pop artists.
A naive small-town girl is waiting for her big break in cinema. She goes from one job to another, from one lover to another, from one disappointment to another, until the only way out that she can see is to throw herself from an open window.
