The Family

"In 1906 Carlo was born into a very large family..."

1987 2h 7m IT

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 132

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Formal portraits, bookends in this 80-year saga, enclose the central story, which opens with the baptism of Carlo, a baby in his grandfather's lap, and ends with Carlo as a grandfather with a baby in his arms. And never once do we get out of the house, whose rooms provide structure. Comfort or passion? Carlo can't really decide until it's too late.

“In 1906 Carlo was born into a very large family...”

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Cast

Vittorio Gassman
Carlo as a man / Carlo's grandfather
Fanny Ardant
Adriana
Stefania Sandrelli
Beatrice
Andrea Occhipinti
Carlo as a young man
Emanuele Lamaro
Carlo as a child
Cecilia Dazzi
Beatrice as a young woman
Jo Champa
Adriana as a young woman
Joska Versari
Giulio as a child

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ettore Scola
Writers: Ruggero Maccari, Furio Scarpelli, Furio Scarpelli
Languages: Italian, English, Spanish
Countries: France, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

39 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Italian, English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ettore Scola, shot by Ricardo Aronovich. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Armando Trovajoli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Francesco Malvestito shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Vittorio Gassman and Fanny Ardant and Stefania Sandrelli carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In 1906 Carlo was born into a very large family...".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ettore Scola directs. Ricardo Aronovich behind the camera. Armando Trovajoli scores. Francesco Malvestito cuts. Produced in France, Italy. Dialogue in Italian, English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

139 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Italian, English, Spanish.
3International production across 2 countries: France, Italy.
4Directed by Ettore Scola, shot by Ricardo Aronovich. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Armando Trovajoli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Francesco Malvestito shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Vittorio Gassman and Fanny Ardant and Stefania Sandrelli carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In 1906 Carlo was born into a very large family...".
9IMDB entry: tt0093004 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.