Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Tags

1960's, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Language Film, Italy, Marcello Mastroianni, Portmanteau, Sophia Loren, Vittorio De Sica, Yesterday Today and Tomorrow

Film Title

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Director

Vittorio De Sica

Starring

• Sophia Loren as Adelina Sbaratti/Anna/Mara
• Marcello Mastroianni as Carmine Sbaratti/Renzo/Augusto Rusconi
• Aldo Giuffrè as Pasquale
• Gianni Ridolfi as Umberto
• Tina Pica as Grandmother

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is three tales of comedy and drama directed by Vittorio De Sica, best known for his work in neo-realism. Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in three tales of the power of sexuality and how people use it, this portmanteau film is a comedic gem with humour to burn and excellent performances.

In Adelina, the first and longest segment, the eponymous character lives in Naples with her unemployed husband Carmine. To make ends meet in their poverty-stricken lives, she sells cigarettes on the black market. One day, she is caught doing this and is threatened with this. After consulting a lawyer, Adelina finds that according to Italian law, a women who is pregnant can’t be imprisoned as well as sixth months after giving birth. This sets in motion Adelina’s scheming, in order to avoid prison she will keep on having children. After seven children, Carmine is exhausted and Adelina must face the possibility of going to prison for her crimes or having a child with her husband’s best friend Pasquale. In the middle segment Anna, a wealthy businessman’s wife is having an affair with Renzo. Whilst her husband is away, she goes for a drive with Renzo in her Rolls Royce through Milan. Anna is selfish and seems devoid of feeling, this makes Renzo question whether she is the right women for him. His decision is further called into question when Anna nearly runs over a young boy, and shows hardly any remorse. And in the last and most sexy story Mara, a high-class prostitute living in Rome. She is well aware of her beauty and knows exactly how to play men. One of her most prominent clients is the neurotic but randy Augusto. In the apartment next door to Mara’s lives an old women, her husband and for a time Umberto, a young man studying for priesthood. The minute he meets the gorgeous Mara he falls for her and begins to question the vows he will take soon. This incurs the wrath of his Grandma, who reluctantly enlists Mara’s help in helping him make the right decision. Prepare for a troika of sexy, witty and well-executed stories boasting excellent chemistry between Loren and Mastroianni.

Vittorio De Sica takes a break from his serious dramas to show his gift for comedy, and directs with a natural ability with his actors of choice. Sophia Loren, surely one of the most beautiful women to grace the screen, is at her peak as three different characters wielding sexual power. She cleverly and naturally invests each character she portrays with a sexy, warm and comic flair and she is greatly supported by Marcello Mastroianni. Mastroianni exudes humour and his expressive face is utilized to great effect throughout the three tales. They are surrounded by many fine and eccentric characters, but it is their film all the way through. Like any portmanteau film, not every part is perfect. The second story is too short and we don’t really get to know the characters that well. The only really purpose of it is to act as an interlude between the other chapters, but it is too short to be interesting. Whereas, the other two stories are excellently played and keep you watching, Adelina being the highlight. Watching as she schemes to avoid prison in a new way and Mastroianni exhausted after seven children is comically scripted, especially when he is castigated by a row of black market women about his reluctance to have any more children. Mara, was the part of the film that garnered the most headlines, in part due to Sophia Loren’s striptease. It may seem tame by today’s standards, but it still is a very sexy highlight to a cheeky film. The other thing to praise except the wonderfully flinty chemistry and performances is the music, which gives the film a mischievous and playful quality.

The winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is a hysterically funny and realised trio of sexy comedy. Even if you don’t get the film or enjoy it, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni will most certainly grab the attention with their well-played performances and unbeatable chemistry.

Tea with Mussolini

Tags

1990's, Cher, Franco Zeffirelli, Italy, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, Maggie Smith, Period Comedy, Period Drama, Tea with Mussolini

Film Title

Tea with Mussolini

Director

Franco Zeffirelli

Cast

• Cher as Elsa Morganthal
• Joan Plowright as Mary Wallace
• Judi Dench as Arabella
• Maggie Smith as Lady Hester Random
• Lily Tomlin as Georgie Rockwell
• Baird Wallace as Teenage Luca
• Charlie Lucas as Young Luca

Franco Zeffirelli draws upon incidents from his own childhood for this semi-autobiographical, coming of age tale of a young boy whose life is influenced by many different women as Italy heads for political change and the impending knowledge of World War II. Funny, warm and boasting an array of fine performances from the talented cast, Tea with Mussolini is charming viewing from start to finish.

The film begins in 1935, Florence. Luca is a young illegitimate child whose mother has died and whose father shows little care for his upbringing. Luckily for him, his father’s secretary, the kind Mary Wallace decides to take the boy into her care. She is part of an expatriate sisterhood known as “The Scorpioni”, which consists of Englishwomen and two Americans. Populating the electic group are Arabella, the spirited art loving bohemian; Lady Hester, a rude and haughty matron who because of her late husbands political connections is a strong believer in Mussolini; Elsa, an outrageous American widow who loves to spend and Georgie, a witty and openly lesbian archaeologist. It is through this gaggle of women that Luca learns many valuable lessons about life as he grows up. But as the country heads for Italy’s involvement in the war and political uncertainty, the bond between him and the women remains strong despite the many attempts to break it. So sit back and enjoy this touching coming of age story of Luca as he grows from childhood to teenage years, instilled with the lessons of the inspirational women that surround him.

Although some of the events in the film feel a little over the top and episodic, this should not detract from the overall freshness of the story as performed by the exceptional cast. The screenplay excellently alternates between dry humour and moments of touching sincerity with deft skill. The use of authentic Italian locations is stunningly realised and shot almost like a Merchant-Ivory picture, capturing the lush beauty but also the eventual turmoil that will occur. Charlie Lucas and Baird Wallace shine as Luca at different ages, showing his emergence from wide-eyed boy to cultured young gentleman. Yet it the female cast that lights up Tea with Mussolini, creating a lively group of eccentric but caring ladies. In a role that seems tailor-made for her, Cher delivers an exciting, sensational and heartfelt performance as the extravagant Elsa, who loves to shake things up, but behind the glamour has a caring streak that becomes most apparent when it comes to Luca. Joan Plowright provides a warm but firm presence as Luca’s surrogate mother figure, her eyes filled with love and care for the boy. She also conveys a sagacious strength when situations get tough and has a quiet but disarming wit. Maggie Smith, that great dame, turns in a typically acerbic performance as the haughty and high-class Hester, blinded by her own naive tendencies. Smith has a hoot delivering the best lines consisting of withering insults and warm responses in equal abundance. That other grand dame of cinema Judi Dench adds eccentric mannerisms and bohemian freedom as the passionate Arabella, showing us her cultured sensibilities with her many recitals of classic poetry and literature. Rounding out this ensemble is Lily Tomlin who adds an arch humour and touching quality as the free-living Georgie, who isn’t afraid to voice her opinion. The film may be set during the war but don’t expect a history lesson, as the main focus is on the effects it has rather than the fighting. Franco Zeffirelli directs with a light comic air that also contains many moments of poignancy arising from Luca’s unbreakable connection with the gaggle of women who have changed his life.

Featuring a brilliant cast, stunning sets and excellent dialogue laced with humour and warmth to spare, Tea with Mussolini is simply a joy. Believe me, the cast enough is reason to see the semi-autobiographical delight from Franco Zeffirelli.