Watch Io la conoscevo bene

Io la conoscevo bene, a 1965 Italian film directed by Antonio Pietrangeli, is a poignant story about a young woman's attempt to navigate her way through the trials and tribulations of life in post-war Italy. The film stars Stefania Sandrelli in a captivating performance as the protagonist, Adriana Astarelli. As the film opens, Adriana is a young woman living in the Italian countryside, dreaming of a better life for herself. She wants to leave her small town and make it big in the city, and sets out on a journey to achieve her dreams. Along the way, she encounters a series of men, each of whom plays a significant role in shaping her life.

One of the first men Adriana meets is a young mechanic named Gino. She initially sees him as a way of escaping her humdrum life in the countryside, and they embark on a whirlwind romance that ultimately ends in heartbreak. Despite her broken heart, Adriana remains determined to succeed, and soon finds work as a model.

Through her work, Adriana meets a wealthy businessman named Emilio. He takes her under his wing, transforming her into a sophisticated, well-dressed woman. Adriana quickly becomes the talk of the town, and soon finds herself at the center of high society. But with her newfound success comes a host of new problems, including an affair with a married man and a feeling of emptiness that she can't shake.

As the film progresses, Adriana's life starts to unravel. Her relationships with the men in her life become more complicated, and she begins to see the harsh realities of the world around her. Despite this, Adriana refuses to give up on her dreams, and continues to forge ahead with steely determination.

One of the things that makes Io la conoscevo bene so compelling is its honest portrayal of post-war Italy. The film was made during a time of great social change in Italy, and Pietrangeli does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the era. The film is filled with vivid depictions of Italian life, from the bustling streets of Rome to the glamorous parties of the Italian elite.

The film also benefits from a strong supporting cast, including Mario Adorf as Emilio and Jean-Claude Brialy as an aspiring filmmaker who becomes one of the important men in Adriana's life. Each of these characters plays a key role in shaping Adriana's journey, and the performances are uniformly excellent.

At its core, Io la conoscevo bene is a film about the costs of ambition. Adriana is a character who wants more than anything to succeed, but as she climbs the ladder of success, she realizes that she's lost something important along the way. The film is a poignant exploration of the sacrifices we make in order to achieve our goals, and the toll those sacrifices can take on our lives.

All in all, Io la conoscevo bene is a beautiful, thought-provoking film that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to make their way in the world. It's a film that is as relevant today as it was when it was first released, and it's not hard to see why it remains a beloved classic of Italian cinema.

Io la conoscevo bene is a 1966 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.