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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 03/17/2023
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. Go to Full Review A.O. Scott New York Times 02/02/2023
An exuberant bad time, a pity party that has no business being so much fun. Go to Full Review Elissa Suh Screen Slate 02/21/2023
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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salvatore d 11/04/2023 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. See more 09/09/2009 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. See more 03/28/2009 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. See more Read all reviews
A Difficult Life

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Dino Risi

Director

Alberto Sordi

Silvio Magnozzi

Lea Massari

Elena

Lina Volonghi

Elena's Mother

Franco Fabrizi

Simonini

Claudio Gora

Comm. Bracci
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A Difficult Life

A Difficult Life (1961) A Difficult Life (1961) A Difficult Life (1961) A Difficult Life (1961) View more photos

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