''L'udienza'' () is a 1972 Italian–French satirical

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. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Marco Ferreri Marco Ferreri (11 May 1928 – 9 May 1997) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor, who began his career in the 1950s directing three films in Spain, followed by 24 Italian films before his death in 1997. He is considered one of t ...

. In 2008, the film was included in the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage's '' 100 Italian films to be saved'', a list of 100 films that "have changed the collective memory of the country between 1942 and 1978."

Plot

Amedeo, a young officer on leave, has come to Rome to have a private audience with the pope. He is put under the surveillance of police officer Diaz, who introduces him to prostitute Aiché with the intent to distract him. Amedeo and Aiché start an affair, but Amedeo still follows his plan, making the acquaintance of a series of clerics in the hope that they will help him. After all his attempts fail and his methods to make contact with the pope become increasingly obtrusive, he is first sent to a Jesuit monastery and later to a mental hospital. Eventually, he dies under the colonnades of St. Peter's Square from

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

, where his body is identified by Diaz. Diaz is then called to take care of a young man waiting at the entry of the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...

, who declares that he wants a private audience with the pope.

Cast

* Enzo Jannacci – Amedeo *

Claudia Cardinale Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinale (; born 15 April 1938), known as Claudia Cardinale (), is an Italian actress. Born and raised in La Goulette, a neighbourhood of Tunis, Cardinale won the "Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia" competition ...

– Aiché *

Ugo Tognazzi Ottavio "Ugo" Tognazzi (23 March 1922 – 27 October 1990) was an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the most important faces of Italian comedy together with Vittorio Gassman, Nino Manfredi, Marcello Mastr ...

– Aureliano Diaz *

Michel Piccoli Jacques Daniel Michel Piccoli (27 December 1925 – 12 May 2020) was a French actor, producer and film director with a career spanning 70 years. He was lauded as one of the greatest French character actors of his generation who played a wide vari ...

– Padre Amerin *

Vittorio Gassman Vittorio Gassman (; born Gassmann; 1 September 1922 – 29 June 2000), popularly known as , was an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the greatest Italian actors, whose career includes both important producti ...

– Principe Donati * Alain Cuny – Jesuit * Daniele Dublino – Padre Ambrogio * Sigelfrido Rossi – Giovanni Rossi * Irena Oberberg – Sister (as Irene Oberberg) * Enrique Bergier – Don Matteo (as Man Lerer Bergier) * Dante Cleri – Jesuit * Luigi Scavran – Padre * Giuseppe Ravenna – Jesuit * Mario Jannilli – Swiss guard * Enzo Mondino – Jesuit * Attilio Pelegatti – Padre (as Attilio Pellegatti) * Bruno Bertocci – policeman

Awards

* FIPRESCI Award at the

22nd Berlin International Film Festival The 22nd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 23 June to 4 July 1972. The Golden Bear was awarded to ''The Canterbury Tales'' directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Jury The following people were announced as being on the jury for ...

References

External links

* 1972 films 1970s Italian-language films 1970s French-language films 1972 drama films Films directed by Marco Ferreri Films with screenplays by Rafael Azcona Italian drama films French drama films 1970s French films 1970s Italian films Films scored by Teo Usuelli 1972 multilingual films Italian multilingual films Italian-language French films French-language Italian films {{1970s-France-film-stub