''Blockhead'' ( it, Testa di rapa, also spelled ''Testadirapa'') is a

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Giancarlo Zagni Giancarlo Zagni (4 November 1926 – 21 March 2013) was an Italian director and screenwriter. Born in Bologna, Zagni attended the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bologna, then collaborated with ''L'avvenire d'Italia'' and other newspap ...

. It was screened at the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

, in which it won the Leone di San Marco Plate.

Plot

Set in Italy in the early 1860s, during the unification (Risorgimento) of the various Italian states into one kingdom, Testadirapa addresses the issue of compulsory education (usually in government-run schools): a concept that has just been introduced by the new national government in the name of the King. (The concept of the "King of Italy" is often mentioned in the film, because in that time and place, it was a new idea — as was compulsory education.) The main character is a stubborn, ignorant peasant known as "Tonio the Mule." Tonio is a widower with a young son, and he objects to the government forcing him to send his son to school. He says he wants the boy to stay home and help on their farm; he doesn't want the boy to get above himself; he doesn't think the government should be able to tell him how to bring up his son. The boy wants to go to school; finally, Tonio tries to keep him at home by literally putting him on a chain. The new national police (the "carabinieri") arrest Tonio. A gang of bandits takes pity on the little boy and offer to break Tonio out of jail, but when Tonio refuses to pledge full allegiance to the gang, they decide to leave him there to take the consequences of his stubbornness. At Tonio's trial, he is sentenced to six months imprisonment — long enough for his son to complete most of his first year of school under the care of a kindly young woman teacher. (At one point, the chief of the bandit gang, in disguise, visits the school to make sure that the boy is getting along well.) Tonio, on receiving a letter from his son (which a guard has to read to him), comes to regret his own attitude. On his release at the end of his sentence, Tonio stops by the school for a friendly chat with the teacher, then arrives home where he sees his son practicing his penmanship. In the final scene, Tonio happily allows his son to teach him how to form letters.

Cast

Folco Lulli Folco Lulli (3 July 1912 – 23 May 1970) was an Italian partisan and film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1946 and 1970. He was the brother of actor Piero Lulli. Selected filmography * ''How I Lost the War'' (1947) * '' ...

: Testa Di Rapa *

Gigliola Cinquetti Gigliola Cinquetti (; born Giliola Cinquetti on 20 December 1947) is an Italian singer, songwriter, and television presenter. Life and career Gigliola Cinquetti was born into a wealthy family in Verona. From the ages of 9 to 13, she studied and ...

: Angelina *

Umberto D'Orsi Umberto D'Orsi (30 July 1929 – 31 August 1976) was an Italian character actor and comedian. Born in Trieste, D'Orsi took a degree in law in 1953, but he was already active in theater from 1950, performing in small companies of prose and revu ...

: Il Sindaco *

Carlo Croccolo Carlo Croccolo (9 April 1927 – 12 October 2019) was an Italian actor, voice actor, director and screenwriter. Biography Born in Naples, Croccolo began his acting career on the radio and he appeared in more than 100 films since 1949. His debut ...

: Brigante Salomone *

Franco Gulà Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ...

: Il Pinzi *

Franco Parenti Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ref ...

: Ispettore Scolastico *

Pippo Starnazza Pippo Starnazza (16 April 1909 – 16 July 1975) was an Italian jazz singer and actor. Born Luigi Redaelli in Milan, he started his career in the 1920s, playing the drums in the De Carli Orchestra at the Orfeo music hall in Milan. After having b ...

: Il Pretore *

Marco Tulli Marco Tulli (20 November 1920 – 20 March 1982) was an Italian character actor, probably best known in the role of "Smilzo" in the Don Camillo film series. Born in Rome, Tulli debuted as actor while he was still a university student, at the end ...

: Lucaccini

References

External links

* 1966 comedy films 1966 films Italian comedy films Films directed by Giancarlo Zagni Films scored by Piero Umiliani 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-comedy-film-stub