Alberto Nardi is a Roman businessman who fancies himself a man of great capabilities, but whose factory teeters perennially on the brink of catastrophe. Alberto is married to a rich and successful businesswoman from Milan, Elvira Almiraghi who has a no-nonsense attitude and barely tolerates the attempts of her husband to keep his factory afloat with her money.
Acting
Sordi's physical comedy of a man drowning in his own ego.
Writing
Risi's razor-sharp dialogue weaponizes every domestic scene.
Director
Dino Risi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Risi was a master of the 'commedia all'italiana,' using laughter to dissect Italy's postwar economic anxiety and social climbing.
Sordi reportedly improvised much of his physical business, making Alberto's desperation feel uncomfortably lived-in.
IT
