Misunderstood

1967 1h 45m IT

🙌

7.5

BANGER

⭐

7.6

IMDB

★7.5TMDB · 103★7.6IMDB · 1,384

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The story of a widower and his two sons, focusing on their complex and sometimes difficult relationships.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Anthony Quayle
Sir John Edward Duncombe
Stefano Colagrande
Andrea
Simone Giannozzi
Milo
John Sharp
Uncle William 'Will'
Adriana Facchetti
Luisa
Rino Benini
Casimirio
Giorgia Moll
Judy
Graziella Granata
Dora

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Luigi Comencini
Writers: Lucia Drudi Demby, Piero De Bernardi, Giuseppe Mangione
Languages: English, Italian
Countries: 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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

59 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Luigi Comencini, shot by Armando Nannuzzi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Anthony Quayle and Stefano Colagrande and Simone Giannozzi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0060538 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Luigi Comencini directs. Armando Nannuzzi behind the camera. Fiorenzo Carpi scores. Nino Baragli cuts. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in English, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

159 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.
3Directed by Luigi Comencini, shot by Armando Nannuzzi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Fiorenzo Carpi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Nino Baragli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Anthony Quayle and Stefano Colagrande and Simone Giannozzi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0060538 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 8 themes, including "affectation", "grief", "growing up", "feelings".

The technical file

Cinematography: Armando Nannuzzi
Original score: Fiorenzo Carpi
Editing: Nino Baragli
Production design: Ranieri Cochetti
Makeup / hair: Carlo Sindici
Runtime: 105 min · 1h 45m
Status: Released
Original language: IT
IMDB: Misunderstood (1967)
IMDB rating: 7.6/10 · 1,384 votes

Awards

3 wins & 2 nominations

Also by

Luigi Comencini

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2025-08-18
★ 7/10
“Sir John” (Anthony Quayle) is Her Majesty’s consul in Florence. It’s a job that comes with a gorgeous villa in a city of beauty and history that is home to his family. It’s when a tragedy impacts on that family that he must come to terms with his own loss and continue to support his two young sons. “Andrea” (Stefano Colagrande) is the elder of the two and has been taken into his father’s confidence, “Milo” (Simone Giannozzi) is much younger and so is initially left only knowing that their mum is away. These two lads get on like an house on fire, and have some considerable joy winding up their new nanny “Luisa” (Adriana Facchetti) who seems to insist that “Milo” spend as much of his time in bed as he can. Eventually, they manage to drive her to the door, but along the way it becomes clear to us that their father appears to favour his younger son. “Milo” is at an age where he wants to tag along to everything his brother does, and inevitably that causes some trouble for which “Andrea” usually gets the blame - just ask the bus driver or the mischievous “Uncle Wili” (John Sharp). Aware that he is becoming a little distant from “Andrea”, the diplomat attempts to spend more time with him, and it’s now that it we truly appreciate just how much this youngster adores his dad - but does his dad? This is certainly one of Quayle’s more personable performances. Sure, he has the usual imperiousness, but he also exudes a rarely seen softer side as the story evolves. That said, the film belongs, entirely, to the two kids. They bring a wonderfully and engaging naturalness to their personas. It is quite possible that they really are brothers, and work effortlessly together - even when the younger is being a pain and the elder is seeking something more meaningful with his father. Their dialogue, and occasionally some of the direction, reminds us that their is recent grief to be dealt with, but that is very subtly expressed by a triumvirate of characters who are dealing, as best they can, with the hand fate has dealt them - but without always understanding just how this has affected the others. For a change, a film set in this finest of Italian cities doesn’t dwell on the location at all, they could be anywhere, it’s all about these three and though I really, really, did not like the conclusion at all, I really did enjoy the film.

Production companies