Watch La terrazza

La Terrazza is a 1980 Italian drama film directed by Ettore Scola. The movie features some of the biggest actors of the time, including Vittorio Gassman, Ugo Tognazzi, and Jean-Louis Trintignant, who play the lead roles. The film is set in Rome and showcases the lives of several characters, reflecting on their various experiences and the ways in which they intersect with each other. The narrative is framed by a single event - the 40th anniversary party of a leftist journalist named Spina, played by Gassman. The party is held on a terrace in Rome, hence the title of the film.

The film opens with several seemingly unrelated characters and their stories. There's Enrico, a writer played by Jean-Louis Trintignant, who is struggling to deal with the end of his marriage. His ex-wife, played by Carla Gravina, has moved on and is currently with an opera singer played by Marcello Mastroianni.

Meanwhile, the successful industrialist and Spina's old friend, Caruso (Ugo Tognazzi), is having an affair with his wife's younger sister Marta (Stefania Sandrelli).

As the story progresses, we see how these various threads come together and intersect as the characters all attend Spina's anniversary party. The guests include politicians, intellectuals, journalists and actors, all with their own agendas and desires.

At the party, we see how the characters interact with each other, revealing their innermost thoughts, frustrations, and desires. The conversations are deep and introspective, often reflecting on the complexities of life, politics and relationships.

Throughout the film, director Scola shows his masterful skill in portraying different social classes and political ideologies. The film is a reflection on Italian society during the 1980s, during a period of political and social upheaval.

One of the key themes of the movie is reflection on the past and how it can influence the present. This is reflected in the way the older characters, such as Spina and Caruso, reminisce about their past lives and love affairs. It's also reflected in the way the younger characters, such as Marta and her boyfriend, are portrayed. They are often detached and uninterested in their history or the politics of the day.

The film's title, La Terrazza, is also significant. The terrace serves as a metaphor for the physical and cultural boundaries that separate the characters, as well as the fleeting nature of their relationships.

Overall, La Terrazza is a powerful and complex film that explores the various themes of love, politics, and history. The movie's strength lies in the performances of its talented cast, particularly Gassman, Tognazzi and Trintignant, who bring a depth and complexity to their respective characters. Director Scola's ability to weave together multiple narratives, creating rich and nuanced characters, makes this a truly compelling film.