Italy was a destroyed country after WWII. As this story begins, we witness the precarious situation of those days in the 1940s, where thousands were made homeless as a result of the intense bombing by the Allied forces. Nothing was easy then. Take young Nino Ricci. He is living with his widowed mother, Lilliana, in a church that was damaged. Nino has to use his wit as a small time thief to help her make ends meet.
In another part of the country, Giordano Ricci, is engaged in finding land mines and bombs left all over the countryside. His job is to dismantle and detonate them. He lives with two aunts that want the best for their favorite nephew. When an unexpected letter arrives for Giordano, he wants to open it privately, out of his aunt's disapproving eyes. The letter if from Lilliana, who was also from the area. As it turns out, she is the sister-in-law of Giordano. Although not asking for help, directly, she goes on to inform of her hard life in Bologna. In Giordano's heart he had waited for this letter for a long time.
Giordano makes up his mind to ask his brother's widow and his nephew to come, providing they can get to Puglia on their own. Nino decides to steal the car that was entrusted to him for the trip South. The aunts are horrified because they realize their nephew was secretly in love with Lilliana. The family life, as they knew it would start to unravel. As the new relatives arrive, everything goes bad, including Nino, who steals money from his employer by seducing his newlywed daughter. But Giordano forgives everything because he has finally found the love of his life.
Pupi Avati, the immensely talented Italian director, knows a thing or two about his countrymen. With this delightful take on family life after the Great War, he consolidates himself as one of the most original storytellers working in the Italian cinema today. It is a joy to sit through his films, as is the case with this one. His hero, Giordano, is a simple man. His life has been nothing because he never found love. Secretly he always longed for the one woman he couldn't have, now available, because of the tragedy his country went through.
Antonio Albanese is a fine comedian. His Giordano is a kind man willing to give everything he has for the woman he always loved. A surprise casting of Katia Ricciarelli, the excellent soprano, as Lilliana, paid off because she brings a tender touch to the story. Neri Marcore is also effective playing Nino, the scoundrel nephew. Angela Luce and Marisa Merlini make a delicious duo playing the old Ricci aunts.
In another part of the country, Giordano Ricci, is engaged in finding land mines and bombs left all over the countryside. His job is to dismantle and detonate them. He lives with two aunts that want the best for their favorite nephew. When an unexpected letter arrives for Giordano, he wants to open it privately, out of his aunt's disapproving eyes. The letter if from Lilliana, who was also from the area. As it turns out, she is the sister-in-law of Giordano. Although not asking for help, directly, she goes on to inform of her hard life in Bologna. In Giordano's heart he had waited for this letter for a long time.
Giordano makes up his mind to ask his brother's widow and his nephew to come, providing they can get to Puglia on their own. Nino decides to steal the car that was entrusted to him for the trip South. The aunts are horrified because they realize their nephew was secretly in love with Lilliana. The family life, as they knew it would start to unravel. As the new relatives arrive, everything goes bad, including Nino, who steals money from his employer by seducing his newlywed daughter. But Giordano forgives everything because he has finally found the love of his life.
Pupi Avati, the immensely talented Italian director, knows a thing or two about his countrymen. With this delightful take on family life after the Great War, he consolidates himself as one of the most original storytellers working in the Italian cinema today. It is a joy to sit through his films, as is the case with this one. His hero, Giordano, is a simple man. His life has been nothing because he never found love. Secretly he always longed for the one woman he couldn't have, now available, because of the tragedy his country went through.
Antonio Albanese is a fine comedian. His Giordano is a kind man willing to give everything he has for the woman he always loved. A surprise casting of Katia Ricciarelli, the excellent soprano, as Lilliana, paid off because she brings a tender touch to the story. Neri Marcore is also effective playing Nino, the scoundrel nephew. Angela Luce and Marisa Merlini make a delicious duo playing the old Ricci aunts.