''Zappatore'' is an Italian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Alfonso Brescia Alfonso Brescia (6 January 1930 – 6 June 2001) was an Italian film director. Brescia began working in film against his father's wishes, and eventually directed his first film '' Revolt of the Praetorians'' in 1964. Brescia worked in several gen ...

and starring

Mario Merola Mario Merola could refer to: *Mario Merola (singer) (1934-2006), an Italian singer and actor *Mario Merola (lawyer) Mario Merola (February 1, 1922 – October 27, 1987) was a New York City Councilman from 1964 to 1971 and the District Attorney of ...

. The film was released in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

on 5 December 1980. It is the "cine-scripted" which received the highest grossing theaters, ranking the 60th place of the most successful films in Italy in the 1980/81 season. The film is loosely based on the eponymous song, written by

Libero Bovio Libero Bovio (9 June 1883 – 26 May 1942) was a Neapolitan lyricist and dialect poet. Bovio was one of those responsible for the rejuvenation of Neapolitan dialect in plays, poetry and song at the beginning of the twentieth century. He took o ...

and Albano.

Story

Francesco Esposito and his wife Madeleine are two farmers who raised Mario, their only child, with love and dedication. To finance his education, they became indebted to a lender. Mario becomes a brilliant lawyer in Naples, the city in which he works, and falls in love with Nancy, the daughter of an Italian-American industrialist. Despite the potential for a happy ending, the story is one of guilt and shame that Mario must reconcile his newfound social position contrasted with the humble beginnings of his parents.

Cast

: Francesco, the digger *

Regina Bianchi Regina Bianchi (1 January 1921 – 5 April 2013) was an Italian stage and film actress. Life and career Born in Lecce as Regina D'Antigny, she was the daughter of two theater actors. Forced by the fascist phobia of foreign cultures to change he ...

: Maddalena *

Gerardo Amato Gerardo Amato (born 15 October 1948) is an Italian actor and voice actor. Life and career Born Gerardo Placido in Ascoli Satriano, the brother of the actor and director Michele Placido, Gerardo Amato at a young age moved to Milan where he trai ...

: Mario son of Franscesco and Maddalena, lawyer *

Biagio Pelligra Biagio Pelligra (born 24 June 1937, in Comiso) is an Italian stage, film and television actor. Life and career Born in Comiso, Province of Ragusa, Pelligra started his acting career in the second half of the sixties, and after several minor rol ...

: accountant Vizzini * Aldo Giuffré: Superintendent of Police *

Mara Venier Mara or MARA may refer to: Animals *Mara (mammal), a species of the cavy family *Mara the Lioness, in the movie ''Born Free'' Arts and entertainment Fictional characters *Mara (Doctor Who), Mara (''Doctor Who''), an evil being in two ''Doctor Who ...

: Nancy *

Alberto Farnese Alberto Farnese (3 June 1926 – 2 June 1996) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than 80 films and television shows between 1951 and 1989. He starred in the film ''Whom God Forgives'', which won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Prize of ...

: Mike Barker, father of nancy *

Matilde Ciccia Matilde Ciccia (born 6 October 1952 in Monasterace) is an Italian former ice dancer. Competing with Lamberto Ceserani, she won the gold medal at the Italian Figure Skating Championships several times. They finished fifth at the 1975 World Champ ...

: Assuntina *

Rick Battaglia Rik Battaglia (byname of Caterino Bertaglia; 18 February 1927 – 27 March 2015) was an Italian film actor. He was born at Corbola, near Rovigo, Veneto. He mainly used the stage name of Rik Battaglia although alternate names he used for his fi ...

: Don Andrea *

Giacomo Rizzo Giacomo Rizzo (born 17 January 1939) is an Italian film actor. He has appeared in more than 40 films since 1970. He starred in ''The Family Friend'', which was entered into the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Selected filmography * '' Il sindacalista ...

: Pasqualino *

Lucio Montanaro Lucio is an Italian and Spanish male given name derived from the Latin name ''Lucius''. In Portuguese, the given name is accented Lúcio. Lucio is also an Italian surname. Given name * Lúcio (Lucimar Ferreira da Silva) (born 1978), Brazilian ...

: Gennarino

External links

* 1980 films Italian drama films 1980s Italian-language films Films directed by Alfonso Brescia 1980s Italian films {{1980s-Italy-film-stub