A hilarious political and sexual farce in which a hardheaded Sicilian labourer finds himself in a heap of trouble both inside and out of his house when he refuses to support his local Mafia candidate in an election. His stubborn refusal to budge on his position ultimately costs him his job, his wife, and a see-it-to-believe-it encounter with a rather large woman. –RottenTomatoes
Born in Rome in 1928, Lina Wertmüller (true name Arcangela Felice Assunta Wertmüller von Elgg Spanol von Braucich) enrolled on stage directing courses at the Accademia Pietro Sharoff in 1951. After gaining her diploma, she worked in the theatre with Garinei and Giovannini and became assistant director to Giorgio De Lullo.
She again worked as assistant director to Fellini on “8 1/2 (Otto e mezzo)” (1963). In the meantime, she worked in the radio and directed television programmes such as “Canzonissima”.
She made her film directing debut with “The Basilisks (I basilischi)” (1963), then in 1965 directed the episodic cinema film “Now Let’s Talk About Men (Questa volta parliamo di uomini)” and for the television “Gian Burrasca’s Diary (Il giornalino di Gian Burrasca)”, a successful adaptation of the eponymous novel by Vamba.
Since then she has directed a further seventeen full-length films for the cinema, including “The seduction of Mimi (Mimì metallurgico ferito nell’onore)”… read more
"Fratelli d'Italia, l'Italia s'è desta, dell'elmo di Scipio s'è cinta la testa. Dov'è la Vittoria? Le porga la chioma, ché schiava di Roma Iddio la creò."
The "love scene" with the obese woman is absolutely hysterical. Giannini was outstanding in the Wertmuller films although Pasqualino Settebellezze (Seven Beauties) was her masterpiece. Some basic knowledge about Italy, Italian culture and Italian history is necessary to fully appreciate them tho I think
A timeless comedy. Full of vitality and delightful performances from all; especially Giannini who’s Mimi’ stands out with his coarse lovability as a sort of southern reinvention of Chaplin, fused with… read review