Quick recap: An unhappy married couple become more unhappy and less married during the course of an evening.

It’s hard for me to believe that anyone would be unhappy while married to Marcello Mastroianni, but I may be biased

Fun (?) fact: The film is referenced during the end credits of Life of Brian – ‘If you have enjoyed this film, why not go and see La Notte?’

If you love a movie with a ton of brooding, then this is the film for you!

My thoughts: Before starting this review, I’d just like to note that this is my 5th black and white film and I miss color so very much. I think that’s partly why this movie seems more dreary and depressing than it might actually be. Then again, it’s premise is about the end of a marriage so I don’t think I’m too far off.

The acting in La Notte was wonderful, but I already loved Marcello Mastroianni in 8 1/2 so it’s not a surprise that I would love him in this. Love is a strong word, though, to describe his character Giovanni, who was sort of a terrible person. I wasn’t sure whether I was supposed to figure out who was at fault in the marriage, but it didn’t really matter because they were both equally awful. Lidia is unhappy the entire time, which is understandable considering her close friend is dying and her husband is literally having an affair in front of her. But she makes a point to look as miserable as possible, at a party no less. I get where she’s coming from, I really do, because the people at the party were all airheads, but sometimes you just have to suck it up a little or just leave because she really brought the vibe down. Giovanni, as I mentioned, had a random affair with the daughter of the guy throwing the party, which I think is just really bad manners. Have these people ever actually been out in public before?

I can’t say I was really invested in the marriage, although I generally root for things working out between people. But these two obviously needed a break. The ending, when Lidia admits to not loving Giovanni anymore is really sad, but then she reads a piece that he wrote for her many years ago and Giovanni has absolutely no recollection of writing it.If that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. The movie ends with him kissing her passionately while she tries to push him off of her and get away. She kind of gives up though and rolls around with him in a sand dune in the saddest sex scene I have seen in a long time.

I guess I hope those two crazy lovebirds make it?

Final review: 3/5. This movie is apparently loved by many, but I don’t think I was in the mood to watch something so depressing

Up next: Memento