Antonio Mombelli (Alberto Sordi, Il Vedovo) is content with his life as a primary school teacher in the small town of Vigevano. But his wife Ada (Claire Bloom, Limelight) is ashamed of their humble circumstances and dreams of something better for their family. She insists he quits his job, gives up on his pension, and opens a small shoe factory… Teetering between humour and tragedy, this early film by Elio Petri (A Quiet Place in the Country, The Working Class Goes to Heaven) is commedia all’italiana at its most bittersweet. Sordi’s bumbling husband careens from catastrophe to catastrophe as he navigates changing definitions for happiness in 1960s Italy.
BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES
4K restoration by StudioCanal
Uncompressed mono PCM audio
New visual essay by critic and filmmaker Kat Ellinger (2026)
Archival documentary featuring critics Jean Gili and Philippe Rouyer, and Elio Petri’s widow, Paola Petri (55 mins)
Newly improved English subtitle translation
Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters
Booklet featuring writing by Elio Petri: Investigation of a Filmmaker author Roberto Curti and archival writing
Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
