A Special Day

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A Special Day

Released May 17, 1977

1h 46m

Drama

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100%

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10 Reviews

91%

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1,000+ Ratings

In Rome, fascist supporter Emanuele (John Vernon) attends a parade commemorating Adolf Hitler's historic meeting with Italian leader Benito Mussolini, leaving his apolitical wife, Antonietta (Sophia Loren), to tend to household duties. Antonietta encounters a man, Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni), who appears surprisingly nonplussed by the political event. Over the course of the day, the two forge a close friendship that will forever change their perceptions of life, love and politics.

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Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

The Criterion Collection's 4K Blu-ray offers a beautiful transfer of Ettore Scola's long unavailable gem.

Oct 14, 2015

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

In Ettore Scola's funny, humane A Special Day, Antonietta and Gabriele are never really a couple, but their brief encounter lights up the screen with the kind of radiance you get only from great movie actors who also are great stars.

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Eric Rogers

Gay Community News (Boston)

The movie offers a moving story of two tortured souls struggling against the quiet violence that preceded the holocaust.

Aug 30, 2022

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It is a moving film by Scola about gender stereotypes, the social condition of women and the overwhelming way in which fascism condemned the dignity of working class people. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Aug 8, 2020

Full Review

Jesús Fernández Santos

El Pais (Spain)

Ettore Scola analyzes the present and makes us see and feel the intolerance that still persists. [Full Review in Spanish]

Jul 26, 2019

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Nathanael Hood

The Retro Set

A Special Day remains a particularly potent demonstration of Ettore Scola's tremendous talents.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 28, 2018

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Michael F

I saw this film years ago but was too young then to appreciate it. I’m very glad I revisited this movie because it’s a gem. Brilliant performances from Mastroianni and Loren.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

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Hank F

Just saw this on Criterion as part of 100th anniversary Mastroianni retrospective. A revelation! This Ettore Scola film is a masterpiece. It perfectly captures that time with all of its "horror" scaled down to a brief encounter. Loren and Mastroianni are luminous. Don't miss it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

Full Review

Lars N

Although small in scale, A Special Day benefits from the narrative constrictions (one day/one apartment complex) to deliver a quietly wonderful and significant film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/12/24

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erroll f

Loren and Mastriani give, perhaps the best performances of their careers in this brilliant study of loneliness and persecution.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/11/23

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Audience Member

Ettore Scola shows with delicacy and tact a situation so distant in the times but so current. Two characters who live situations of hardship and difficulty in a fascist Rome that sees a strong patriarchy and that affects both. A perfect interpretation of Marcello Mastroianni and a really modern theme. Spectacular direction and shots by Ettore Scola.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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steve d

The acting is great but I expected a bit more from it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Ettore Scola

Director

Sophia Loren

Antonietta Taberi

Marcello Mastroianni

Gabriele

John Vernon

Emanuele, the husband of Antonietta

Françoise Berd

Caretaker

Tiziano De Persio

Arnaldo

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Synopsis

In Rome, fascist supporter Emanuele (John Vernon) attends a parade commemorating Adolf Hitler's historic meeting with Italian leader Benito Mussolini, leaving his apolitical wife, Antonietta (Sophia Loren), to tend to household duties. Antonietta encounters a man, Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni), who appears surprisingly nonplussed by the political event. Over the course of the day, the two forge a close friendship that will forever change their perceptions of life, love and politics.

Director: Ettore Scola
Producer: Carlo Ponti
Screenwriter: Maurizio Costanzo, Ettore Scola
Distributor: Cinema 5 Distributing
Production Co: Compagnia Cinematografica Champion, Canafox
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): May 17, 1977, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 8, 2015
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Mono

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