LOVERS AND LIARS (TRAVELS WITH ANITA)

Italy, 1978, 93 minutes, Colour.
Goldie Hawn, Giancarlo Giannini, Laura Betti.
Directed by Mario Monicelli.

Lovers and Liars (Travels With Anita) is a wry comedy drama from prolific Italian director Mario Monicelli (Mortadella, Let's Hope It's a Girl). The film is also a star vehicle for
Goldie Hawn. Her leading man is Giancarlo Giannini, the star of many films by Lina Wertmuller, the Seduction of Mimi, Seven Beauties, Night Full of Rain...

The film shows its hero as quite unsympathetic, caught in an unhappy marriage, driving to his father's dying bedside but caught up in his attraction towards women. By accident, he takes up with an American tourist, played by Goldie Hawn, but does not tell her the truth about his father's dying. The film is a sequence of incidents on the road, the two falling in love, arriving at the town and the hero having to cope with what was happening in the family without revealing the truth to Anita, installing her in a local hotel. His father has died before he arrived, so he has to cope with the family.

The film reaches a climax at his father's funeral, a confrontation by Anita, the revelation of the truth about the father and his growing sense of freedom from the constraints of propriety that Italian family life requires while it covers over hypocritical behaviour.

The film is leisurely, the two stars have strong screen presence and sustain what might otherwise be a very slight story.

1.The two titles of the film? Indication of themes? The focus on Anita?

2.The Roman locations, the Italian Autostrada to the north, the northern Italian towns, the finale in Pisa? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?

3.The Italian background, social mores, the bonding of Italian families, proprieties, hypocrisies? The sense of confinement, the need for breaking out of the constraints?

4.Guido, his life in Rome, his work at the bank, the brittle relationship with his wife, his taciturn son? The news of his father's dying? Woken up in the middle of the night, the decision to go? His reluctance to go - even though preoccupied about his family, the opportunities he had to study and get a good job and not work in the local factory? His having kept his distance from his family? Going to Jennifer, an attempt at seduction, her resistance? His meeting with Anita, her wanting to go on the trip?

5.The trip, driving on the highway, his not telling Anita the truth? Pulling off the road and the sexual advance? Her resistance? The continued journey, telling his story? Going to the beach, to the island? The sexual encounter? Playing games with the locals, walking along the beach? Her change of attitude towards him? Getting closer to home? His story about his brothers, his name coming out of the hat, his having opportunities, their lacking them?

6.Anita, her background, friendship with Jennifer? The tourist ticket, her wanting to see Pisa, going with Guido? The TV commercial at the Trevi fountain, her fluffing her lines, her anger with being hit? Getting the money? Guido's exasperation? Her reaction to his advances? Going to the island, her change of mood? The sexual encounter? Listening to his story?

7.Guido arriving home, his bad mood? Putting Anita in the hotel? His plans? His father already dead, the reaction of the family? His having to cope with them? Slipping out to ring Anita, having to delay meeting her? The hotel encounter? Talking to the woman at the desk? The preparation for the funeral? The encounter with his father's mistress, the discovery of the truth, allowing her to come in? His discussions with his brothers?

8.Anita and her bewilderment, being abandoned by Guido? In the hotel, her reactions? Talking with the woman at the desk, going to the movies? Guido's phone calls? The meeting, the dinner? Her discovery of the sign and the information about his father's death? With the truck driver, going to confront him at the funeral?

9.The funeral procession, the family and their being disturbed by Anita's presence? Marching together, the prim and proper talking? Guido and his constraints? His telling the truth about the father's mistress? The argumentation, the reaction of the priest? Stopping at the level crossing? Guido telling the truth about his mother putting only his name in the hat to go to study? His having discussed this with his mother? The family confrontation? Resolution?

10.The finale at Pisa - the free Guido, Anita in love with him? A future together?

11.The film's wry comment on Italian family bonds, opportunities? Marriages, relationships? The mother knowing about her husband's relationship? The presence of the mistress at the funeral? Proprieties and hypocrisies? The need to break free?