"A Special Day" is not a film for everyone. While it is very well made and the acting is terrific, it's style and subject matter make it a movie that the average person would probably not enjoy.
This film is set in Rome during the first meeting between Mussolini and Hitler. The city is abuzz and fascists are excited to see the treaty between the two formidable nations. However, while this is a bit, global event, the film is very small--confined to a couple apartments nearby and involving two strangers who quickly become friends. While Antoinetta (Sophia Loren) stays home and keeps house while her husband and children attend a fascist rally, she is left alone--with little to actually do. When her pet bird escapes and flies towards another apartment, she gives chase and meets Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni). The two hit it off--and the rest of the film consists of the two talking....and talking. Some of it is very interesting (such as when Antoinetta falls in love with Gabriele--only to learn he is gay) and much of it seems like small talk among friends. As for me, I liked it for the acting, but even with my high tolerance for this sort of film, it did get old after a while. Additionally, the film's lousy print (it appears to have either been copied from a degraded videotape or directly from TV) makes it a rather unrewarding viewing experience. Not bad--just not all enjoyable.
This film is set in Rome during the first meeting between Mussolini and Hitler. The city is abuzz and fascists are excited to see the treaty between the two formidable nations. However, while this is a bit, global event, the film is very small--confined to a couple apartments nearby and involving two strangers who quickly become friends. While Antoinetta (Sophia Loren) stays home and keeps house while her husband and children attend a fascist rally, she is left alone--with little to actually do. When her pet bird escapes and flies towards another apartment, she gives chase and meets Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni). The two hit it off--and the rest of the film consists of the two talking....and talking. Some of it is very interesting (such as when Antoinetta falls in love with Gabriele--only to learn he is gay) and much of it seems like small talk among friends. As for me, I liked it for the acting, but even with my high tolerance for this sort of film, it did get old after a while. Additionally, the film's lousy print (it appears to have either been copied from a degraded videotape or directly from TV) makes it a rather unrewarding viewing experience. Not bad--just not all enjoyable.