''Nenè'' is a

1977 Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic R ...

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 ...

drama film directed by

Salvatore Samperi Salvatore Samperi (26 July 1944 – 4 March 2009) was an Italian film director. His 1973 film '' Malicious'' was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival and his 1979 film ''Ernesto'' was entered into the 29th Berlin In ...

. The film is a

historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romance film, romances, adventure f ...

, set in post-war Italy in 1948 during the first free elections after the war. It tells of a romance and a coming-of-age amid a difficult family life and amid national political tensions. The film was an adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name, written by

Cesare Lanza Cesare Lanza (born 8 July 1942) is an Italian journalist and author. Born in Cosenza, Lanza started working as a journalist at fourteen years old.Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. ''Catalogo dei viventi''. Marsilio, 2009. . In 1976 he becam ...

. His novel won the Premio Sila award in 1976.

Plot

Ju is a nine-year-old boy growing up in the aftermath of World War II in Italy. He is observant of the difficulties surrounding him. Both his father and mother have suffered emotionally, though his mother has suffered more due to the ongoing sexual and physical abuse caused by her husband. Ju's orphaned fifteen-year-old cousin Nenè, comes to live with his family. Through Nenè, Ju learns even more of the strange adult world that he has yet to enter. Nenè allows him to sleep in her bed and confides in him of her growing sexuality and her secret affair with a local Mulatto boy.

Cast

Leonora Fani Leonora Fani (born 18 February 1954) is an Italian former film actress. Career Born in Crocetta del Montello, province of Treviso, as Eleonora Cristofani, Leonora Fani was launched in 1971 by winning the " Miss Teenager" pageant. Then she had a ...

as Nenè *Sven Valsecchi as Ju *

Tino Schirinzi Tino Schirinzi (12 August 1934 – 18 August 1993), was an Italian actor and stage director. Born in Taranto, Schirinzi graduated in medicine, then he devoted himself to the theatre, often working at the Teatro Stabile in Turin and at the Picc ...

as Father of Ju and Pa *

Paola Senatore Paola Senatore (born 9 November 1949) is an Italian retired film actress. Biography Born in Rome, Paola Senatore worked in Italian genre films during the 1970s, including poliziotteschi, commedia sexy all'italiana and giallo films. These include ...

as Mother of Ju and Pa *

Rita Savagnone Rita Savagnone (born September 19, 1939) is an Italian film, television and voice actress. Biography Born in Rome to Giuseppe Savagnone and Rosella Marraffa and the younger sister of voice actress Deddi Savagnone, She began her acting career at s ...

as Teacher of Ju *Vittoria Valsecchi as Pa *Alberto Cancemi as Rodi *

Ugo Tognazzi Ugo Tognazzi (23 March 1922 – 27 October 1990) was an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter. Early life Tognazzi was born in Cremona, in northern Italy but spent his youth in various localities as his father was a travelling clerk fo ...

as "Baffo", the barber

Production notes

The Italian censorship rating for the film is 'suitable for age 14 and above'.

External links

* * 1977 drama films 1977 films Films directed by Salvatore Samperi Films set in 1948 Films set in Italy Italian coming-of-age films 1970s Italian-language films 1970s Italian films {{1970s-Italy-film-stub