MACARONI/MACCHERONI
Italy, 1985, 104 minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Marcello Mastroianni.
Directed by Ettore Scola.
Macaroni is a pleasing star vehicle for Jack Lemmon and Marcello Mastroianni. It was co-written and directed by Ettore Scola (The Ball, Passion of Love, The Family) .
Photographed beautifully in Naples, the film shows an American returning after 40 years to the city where he served at the end of World War Two. He has forgotten the attachments he made at that time. However, the brother of his girlfriend has not forgotten and indeed has been writing letters as the American for 40 years. Their initial meeting is difficult, but gradually there is a transformation of the American. The film is one of nostalgia as well as hope. The two actors are very much at home in their roles. Lennon is the crusty American who is mellowing. Mastroianni steals the film as an engagingly optimistic brother and father.
1. Enjoyable? Blend of the serious and comic? Italian and American cultures? Age, memory, reconciliation?
2. The use of Naples, the photography of the city, its beauty? Musical score?
3. The stars, the place of this film in their careers? Embodying the American and the Italian? Together?
4. The focus of the film on a few days, special days, transformation after 40 years? A chance for new life? Death and life?
5. Jack Lemmon as Robert: arriving, crusty, changing his travelling plans, in the car, with the secretary, the arrangements, the hotel, his being tired, headaches, arrangements?
6. The contrast with Antonio and his arrival, bothering the hotel staff, meeting Robert, not being welcomed, the photo of Maria, his virtually being ousted, the effect on him? Robert having no memories?
7. Robert as the American in his 60s, the past 40 years, wife and family, divorce and bitterness, his work, expertise, people trying to undermine his position? His memory of despair during the '70s and '80s? Depression? His going to meetings, his speeches? The television interview?
8. Antonio and the 40 years: a genial man, eccentric, nice? His work in the archives and its cold? Smoke and his illness? The motivation for his visit, being ousted, hurt? His revelation of 40 years: love for Maria, on her behalf being hurt, the decision to write the letters, the passing of the years, the international adventures, his own marriage and warmth, his love for his son, interested in his career, the music? Writing plays, the performance? His love for Carmelina? Everybody knowing him, knowing the family's story?
9. Robert wandering the city, getting out of the taxi, remembering Maria? Relenting towards Antonio, wanting to return the photo, going to his office, talking, going to the town to see Antonio's grandnephew, meeting Maria and her husband, the warmth of the visit, understanding the past, the visit to the studio and seeing Culio sing, going to the theatre and seeing the performance, the visit to Antonio's mother and her telling his fortune? Hearing of the letters, his astonishment, reading them, his reaction? The re-bonding of the two?
10. His having to return, the phone call at the airport, keeping the plane waiting, leaving? Trying to find Antonio and Giulio? Giulio's predicament? Going to Carmelina, the steps in tracking down where Giulio was, the girlfriend, finding Giulio, the gangsters with Antonio and bashing him, the fight? the charm? (Like the hero of the letters?) Their being together, going to buy the sweet, finding Antonio dead, his pain and sorrow?
11. The meal with the whole family, the full plate and, his making a place for Antonio, the camera tracking on the faces of each of those present? Their relationship with Antonio? Friendship, giving, a future?
12. Portrait of the two men, their lives, regrets, generosity, meaning and opportunity?
