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Encyclopedia
An Average Little Man is a 1977 Italian drama film
directed by Mario Monicelli
. It is based on on the novel of the same name written by Vincenzo Cerami. The first hour is a fine example of commedia all'italiana
but the second part is a psychological drama and a tragedy. The film was an entrant in the 1977 Cannes Film Festival
.
The father, in an attempt to guide his son, emphasizes the point of practicing humility in the presence of his superiors at work, and has him enroll in a Masonic lodge to help him gain friendships and favoritisms that, at first, he would never hope to have.
Just as the attempts of Giovanni Vivaldi seems to turn to success, his son Mario is killed, hit by a stray bullet during a shootout that erupts following a robbery in which the father and son are accidentally involved.
Misfortune and sufferings consequently distort the lives, beliefs and morality of the Vivaldi spouses. The wife of Giovanni becomes ill, loses her voice and becomes seriously handicapped. Giovanni, now blinded by grief and hatred, throws himself headlong into an isolated and desperate quest, which takes him first to identify his child's murderer and then to evade police capture. He abducts his son's murderer, takes him to a secluded cabin and submits him to torture and violence, eventually bringing the killer of his child to a slow death.
Then, for Giovanni arrives - at his set date - his retirement and, only a day later, the death of his wife who had by now been overcome by her disability.
Giovanni is now prepared with serenity and resignation to live into old age, but a spontaneous verbal confrontation with a young idler revives in him the role of an executioner who will, presumably, kill again.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Mario Monicelli
Mario Monicelli
Mario Monicelli was an Italian director and screenwriter and one of the masters of the Commedia all'Italiana , three times nominated for Oscar.-Biography:...
. It is based on on the novel of the same name written by Vincenzo Cerami. The first hour is a fine example of commedia all'italiana
Commedia all'italiana
Commedia all'italiana or Italian-style comedy is an Italian film genre. It is widely considered to have started with Mario Monicelli's I soliti ignoti in 1958 and derives its name from the title of Pietro Germi's Divorzio all'italiana .-Stars:Vittorio Gassman, Ugo...
but the second part is a psychological drama and a tragedy. The film was an entrant in the 1977 Cannes Film Festival
1977 Cannes Film Festival
The 30th Cannes Film Festival was held on May 13-27. A new non-competitive section, 'Le Passé composé', is held at this festival only and focuses on compilations.- Jury :*Roberto Rossellini *N'Sougan Agblemagnon...
.
Plot
Giovanni Vivaldi (Alberto Sordi) is a petty bourgeois, modest blue collar worker nearing retirement in a public office in the capital. His life is divided between work and family. With his wife (Shelley Winters) he shares high hopes for his son, Mario (Vincenzo Crocitti), a newly qualified accountant and a very bright boy who willingly assists in the efforts which his father employs to make it in the same office.The father, in an attempt to guide his son, emphasizes the point of practicing humility in the presence of his superiors at work, and has him enroll in a Masonic lodge to help him gain friendships and favoritisms that, at first, he would never hope to have.
Just as the attempts of Giovanni Vivaldi seems to turn to success, his son Mario is killed, hit by a stray bullet during a shootout that erupts following a robbery in which the father and son are accidentally involved.
Misfortune and sufferings consequently distort the lives, beliefs and morality of the Vivaldi spouses. The wife of Giovanni becomes ill, loses her voice and becomes seriously handicapped. Giovanni, now blinded by grief and hatred, throws himself headlong into an isolated and desperate quest, which takes him first to identify his child's murderer and then to evade police capture. He abducts his son's murderer, takes him to a secluded cabin and submits him to torture and violence, eventually bringing the killer of his child to a slow death.
Then, for Giovanni arrives - at his set date - his retirement and, only a day later, the death of his wife who had by now been overcome by her disability.
Giovanni is now prepared with serenity and resignation to live into old age, but a spontaneous verbal confrontation with a young idler revives in him the role of an executioner who will, presumably, kill again.
Cast
- Alberto SordiAlberto SordiAlberto Sordi, also known as Albertone, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian actor. He was also a film director and the dubbing voice of Oliver Hardy in the Italian version of the Laurel & Hardy films....
- Giovanni Vivaldi - Shelley WintersShelley WintersShelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
- Amalia Vivaldi - Vincenzo CrocittiVincenzo CrocittiVincenzo Crocitti was an Italian cinema and television actor. Crocitti was born in Rome.His credits include:* I sette magnifici cornuti...
- Mario Vivaldi - Romolo ValliRomolo ValliRomolo Valli was an Italian actor.Valli was born in Reggio Emilia. He was one of the best known Italian actors from the 1950s to his death. He worked both for the stage and the silver screen...
- Dr. Spaziani - Renzo Carboni - Robber
- Enrico Beruschi - Toti
- Marcello Di Martire
- Francesco D'Adda - (as Francesca D'Adda Salvaterra)
- Edoardo Florio
- Ettore Garofolo - Young Man on Street
Awards
- 3 David di DonatelloDavid di DonatelloDavid di Donatello, named after Donatello's David, is a movie award assigned each year for cinematic performances and production by Ente David di Donatello, part of Accademia del Cinema Italiano. It is the Italian equivalent to the Academy Award. There are 24 categories as of 2006.- History :The...
: Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor (Alberto Sordi). - 4 Nastro d'ArgentoNastro d'ArgentoThe Nastro d'Argento is a movie award assigned each year, since 1946, for cinematic performances and production by Sindacato Nazionale dei Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani, the association of Italian film critics...
:Best Actor, Best Script, Best New Actor (Vincenzo Crocitti), Best Supporting Actor (Romolo Valli) .