Vacanze di Natale is a 1983 Italian Christmas comedy film directed by Carlo Vanzina. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.[1]
| Vacanze di Natale | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Renato Casaro | |
| Directed by | Carlo Vanzina |
| Written by | Carlo Vanzina Enrico Vanzina |
| Produced by | Aurelio De Laurentiis Luigi De Laurentiis |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Claudio Cirillo |
| Edited by | Raimondo Crociani |
| Music by | Giorgio Calabrese |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Gaumont |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
Plot
editIn Christmas of 1983 two families collide in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Both are from Rome. One of them (the Covelli family) is seemingly rich, elegant, and with refined taste, although there are some hints that they are parvenu. They consist of consists of mother, father (played by Riccardo Garrone), two sons (of which Christian De Sica) and a daughter. The second (the Marchetti family) is made up of people seemingly vulgar and rough, where the father (played by Mario Brega) is a butcher, and the son is played by Claudio Amendola. The Amendola character and the second son of the rich family are both fans of football club A.S. Roma, and know one another well as they attend together the games every Sunday, and they are happy to see one another, so the families have to spend some time together, despite being seemingly of different social extractions. The stories and adventures of the members of the two families intersect and give rise to hilarious misunderstandings, while a penniless pianist (Jerry Calà) falls in love again with his ex-girlfriend (Stefania Sandrelli). Roberto Covelli (De Sica) has an American girlfriend, who doesn't get his attention and persistently courted by Mario Marchetti (Amendola). The contact between the two families will be done through the acquaintance of Mario with a member of Covelli which, when seen in front of the rude common people of Rome are upset. After many adventures finished good and evil Samantha's girlfriend, Roberto, will notice the sad courting the mild Mario and give him what he wishes for one night before leaving for ever for America. Meanwhile, the Covelli Family, with astonishment and regret, discovers that his young son, Roberto, is gay. One year after the holiday, both families reunite again in Sardinia during the summer and will create a new whirlwind of hilarious situations.
Cast
edit- Jerry Calà as Billo, the pianist
- Christian De Sica as Roberto Covelli
- Karina Huff as Samantha
- Claudio Amendola as Mario Marchetti
- Antonella Interlenghi as Serenella
- Riccardo Garrone as Giovanni Covelli
- Rossella Como as Signora Covelli
- Guido Nicheli as Donatone
- Marco Urbinati as Luca Covelli
- Mario Brega as Arturo Marchetti
- Rossana Di Lorenzo as Erminia Marchetti
- Marilù Tolo as Grazia Tassoni
- Stefania Sandrelli as Ivana
- Roberto Della Casa as Cesare
- Paolo Baroni as Collosecco
- Licinia Lentini as Moira
- Moana Pozzi as Luana
- Clara Colosimo as Farmacista
- Pino Locchi as Narrator (voice)
Production
editThe movie was shot for only three weeks, in the Fall of 1983.[2] The shooting occurred almost completely in the ski resorts of Faloria and Cortina d'Ampezzo.[3]
Critics and even the producers have framed the movie as a direct representation of the status symbols of the time, without any insertions of social criticism,[4] despite the fact that there are some contradictions between social ambitions of the characters in the movie.[5] The increased well-being of the Italian society in the 1980s is represented by the high- end vacation spots chosen for shooting.[6]
One can note the differences between the quality of the villa inhabited by the Covelli family and the five star hotel where some protagonists are guests (Guido Nicheli, Stefania Sandrelli, and others) and, on the other side, the 3 star hotel (Hotel Fanes, closed since 2002), where the Marchetti family are guests.[7]
On the other hand the common areas of the VIP Club where Jerry Calà plays the piano, or the central Corso Italia, symbolize the tentaqtive of social ramping and the apparent equalization of the characters, due to the crossing of interests and passions.,[6]
Promotion
editRenato Casaro prepared the manifests for the movie promotion to the movie theaters.[8]
Distribution
editThe movie, which obtained the permission from the then Ministero del turismo e dello spettacolo permission n. 79461 del 16/12/1983, as per Italian Law n. 161 of 21 April 1962, was distributed in the Italian theaters starting from 23 December 1983.[9][10]
The movie has been issued in different VHS formats, initially produced by the De Laurentis - Ricordi Video and distributed by the Univideo, was then reprinted both by RCS Edizioni and by Filmauro Home Video with distribution Aurelio De Laurentis Multimedia.
On 15 December 2003 a commemorative evening celebrated the 20th anniversary of the movie.
Reception
editRevenue
editAt the box office the movie cashed 2,939,774,000 Italian Liras.[11] classifying at the 9th spot for 1983-1984 in Italy.[12]
Critics
editThe movie, modelled after the 1959 Vacanze d'inverno of Camillo Mastrocinque,[13] was well received from the critics at the time of issuance. Several writers appreciated the director's gusto, drama and a little bit of sentimentalism. In addition several good actors were mixed with experienced ones, similar to what had happened in the Sapore di mare movie.[14] Further critics gave to the movie the merit of photographing directly the characteristics and the contradictions of the 1980s, distinguished by several classes, an increasing well-being, and an appearing possibility of common interests of such classes.[13][15]
References
edit- ^ "Italian Comedy - The State of Things". labiennale.org. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Film - Marilù Tolo in vacanza". No. 286. Stampa Sera. 1983. p. 37.
- ^ "#1 Vacanze di Natale (1983) - Forum - il Davinotti". Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "vanzina: 'l'italia di vacanze di natale? un modello studiato e replicato, come accadde a sordi'…". 27 January 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Emanuele DAniello (15 December 2017). "Vacanze di Natale, all'alba dei cinepanettoni". CulturaMente (in Italian). Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Cortina: sul set del primo "Vacanze di Natale"". SiViaggia (in Italian). 17 December 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Patrizia Serra (June 2011). "Alberghi chiusi a Cortina". Voci di Cortina. No. 86. p. 3.
- ^ "Collection of Original Paintings for Movie Posters". www.casaro-renato-art.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Cinema - Prime Visioni Roma". No. 307. L'Unità. 1983. p. 13.
- ^ "Cinema - Prime Visioni Torino". No. 346. Stampa Sera. 1983. p. 16.
- ^ Roberto Chiti (1991). Gremese Editore (ed.). Dizionario del cinema italiano. p. 328. ISBN 978-88-7742-429-7.
- ^ "Stagione 1983-84: i 100 film di maggior incasso". hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ a b "10, 100, 1000 cinepanettoni • Rivista Studio". Rivista Studio (in Italian). 28 March 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Film al cinema - Vacanze di natale". Il Resto del Carlino. 24 December 1983.
- ^ Alan O'Leary (2013). Rubbettino Editore (ed.). Fenomenologia del cinepanettone.