CRONACA FAMILIARE (FAMILY DIARY)

Italy, 1962, 115 minutes, Colour.
Marcello Mastroianni, Jacques Perrin, Sylvie.
Directed by Valerio Zurlini.

Family Diary is a beautiful Italian film. It is based on the novel by Vasco Pratolini which has become something of a classic. Beautifully acted by Marcello Mastroianni, Jacques Perrin, it is the story of two brothers and has a World War II setting. The film captures the atmosphere and flavour of the Italian way of life. Director Valerio Zurlini also made such films as A Girl with two Suitcases.

1. How moving and enjoyable a film, how interesting?

2. How particularly Italian was the film? What were the special Italian qualities? Their impact for non-Italian audiences?

3. The film's use of colour, backgrounds of Florence and Rome, musical background and mood?

4. The films creation of the atmosphere of the forties, the depression, the war? The atmosphere and its relationship to the characters and themes?

5. Comment on the particular style of the film: for example the use of frequent close-ups, long takes for conversations, the pattern¬ing of the two heads of the brothers etc. What was the effect for the audience and for the mood and pace of the film?

6. The film was based on a classic novel. Did the film convey this?

7. The importance of the film's structure: Enrico waiting, the death, the diary, the flashback technique? The significance of the title? The background of the credits and the faded photos? At the end?

8. Audience interest in and sympathy for Enrico? Marcello Mastroianni and his impact? Interest in him at the start? His waiting, the emotional atmosphere, the impact of the death? The audience being prepared to follow this character throughout the film?

9. Comment on the way the film explored Enrico’s character? The device of the diary, the fact that he was a writer, his explanation of his childhood, the visualising of these memories? His loneliness, jealousy, blaming his brother? Comment on the effect of the diary being spoken and the dead brother being addressed all the time.

10. Enrico as he grow up: meeting his brother at the table tennis
room, Sharing the room with his brother, the growth in friendship, the nature of the bonds between them?

11. Discuss the importance of the sequence of Lorenzo’s visit to his stepfather. The clash between Enrico and the stepfather? The background of the stepfather, his fall from society and wealth His giving up Lorenzo?

12. The contrasts with the visits to the grandmother? The personality and impact of the grandmother? The mood of feeling and emotion in these sequences? The fact that she was in a home, the happiness of the visits, the sadness and hesitation of her return? The impact of the woman on both brothers? How well did we see Lorenzo? In himself or through Enrico’s eyes? His childhood, his stepfather and family, social upbringing? The table-tennis room? His involvement with the girl? His sharing the room with Enrico, his awkwardness and shyness? Meeting Enrico in later years? Growing up and enjoying Enrico's company? The bonds on Lorenzo *s side?

13. The films visualising of the family and exploring of brotherly love and intimacy?

14. The film’s treatment of Lorenzo’s wife and child? The glimpses of his wife? Why so few? The wife as staying in Florence when he was ill?

15. The film’s treatment of illness and visualising of illness and pain? Audience response to this, sympathy?

16. How well did the film communicate the reality of dying? The impact of death on the man dying, on others? The importance of the hospital, the war, the ulceration, the inability to help Lorenzo back to life?

17.What insight into the nature of families, family heritage, family pain did the film offer?

18.Insights into the nature of relationships, of love and hate?

19. The film’s background of social differences and social classes? The impact on family?

20. The film’s presentation of the need to survive, to live? Discussion of God at the end?

21. The theme of ambitions? Enrico’s ambition to be a writer, his illness and yet his achievement? Lorenzo and the cutting short of his ambitions?

22.The film’s exploration of loneliness?

23.The insight into death? The depth of feeling, the terror, the clinging to life, the transcendent questions of God and afterlife