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A Difficult Life

Play trailer Poster for A Difficult Life 1961 1h 55m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Following the national trauma of World War II, Italian society is in turmoil. Ardent leftist Silvio Magnozzi (Alberto Sordi) spent the war as an anti-fascist guerrilla, and he's dismayed to see the country he fought for lurching rightward politically and focusing on shallow materialism instead of civil rights. Unable to keep his former job as a journalist, Silvio loses both his social standing and his wife (Lea Massari), until he attempts to back away from his principles.

Critics Reviews

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Robert Abele Los Angeles Times It’s Silvio’s hapless, cause-driven arrogance that cinches this as Sordi’s tour de force, maximizing Risi’s canny trust that a fixed camera on gifted actors will yield plenty of funny, poignant, gritty life. Mar 17, 2023 Full Review A.O. Scott New York Times An exuberant bad time, a pity party that has no business being so much fun. Feb 2, 2023 Full Review Elissa Suh Screen Slate Romantic drama and political ideals clash with unsuspecting force in Dino Risi’s cynical examination of Italy during the disorienting aftermath of World War II. Feb 21, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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salvatore d Un film bellissimo,uno tra i più belli di Alberto Sordi. Il racconto di un uomo che non si piega a novanta gradi come capita spesso,un uomo che non accetta nessun compromesso. Poi capisco che uno spettatore straniero abituato a vedere Superman si possa annoiare. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Dino Risi is now officially a director whose films I'd like to dig more. A marvelous blend between the poverty which u often can see in Neo-Realism movie and comedy like mmm could I say warm and touching a la Italian movie (I don't know but they really have different sort kind of comedy). A romantic comedy about a couple living with their idealistic and love through the misery of everyday lives of working class Italian. Now I can see who is Roberto Benigni's most important figure in Italian cinema, especially when he made La Vita e Bella. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member As often with these Italian films trying to illustrate the destiny of the nation through the life of a single man, you quickly get bored. To avoid at all cost. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Difficult Life

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A Difficult Life

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Movie Info

Synopsis Following the national trauma of World War II, Italian society is in turmoil. Ardent leftist Silvio Magnozzi (Alberto Sordi) spent the war as an anti-fascist guerrilla, and he's dismayed to see the country he fought for lurching rightward politically and focusing on shallow materialism instead of civil rights. Unable to keep his former job as a journalist, Silvio loses both his social standing and his wife (Lea Massari), until he attempts to back away from his principles.
Director
Dino Risi
Production Co
Titanus
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Italian
Runtime
1h 55m