A Difficult Life (1961): Cast, Box Office & Plot
A Difficult Life is a 1961 comedy drama directed by Dino Risi, starring Alberto Sordi as Silvio Magnozzi, Lea Massari and Franco Fabrizi. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $71,630 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 58m (118 min)
- Director
- Dino Risi
- Original language
-
Italian
- Studio
- DDL Cinematografica
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is A Difficult Life About?
The premise of A Difficult Life without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Silvio refuses to fight for the fascists and joins the resistance with Elena. After the war, his vitriolic newspaper articles cause him to be sentenced to imprisonment.
A Difficult Life Themes & Keywords
· 6 tags- italy
- journalist
- husband wife relationship
- communist party
- commedia all'italiana
- italian comedy
A Difficult Life Cast & Characters
Alberto Sordi leads the cast as Silvio Magnozzi, with Lea Massari as Elena Pavinato and Franco Fabrizi as Franco Simonini. Directed by Dino Risi; 18 actors are credited in all.
- Director Dino Risi
-
Alberto Sordi as Silvio Magnozzi - Lea Massari as Elena Pavinato
-
Franco Fabrizi as Franco Simonini - Lina Volonghi as Amalia Pavinato
Also Starring in A Difficult Life
· 14 more- Claudio Gora le commandeur Bracci
- Vittorio Gassman Themselves
- Silvana Mangano Themselves
- Daniele Vargas
- Alessandro Blasetti Themselves
- Mino Doro
- Antonio Centa Carlo, l'ami d'Elena
- Edith Peters
- Loredana Cappelletti Giovanna, l'amie d'Elena
- Borante Domizlaff Le soldat allemand tué par Elena avec un fer à repasser
- Valeria Manganelli
- Paolino Vanni
- Bruna Perego
- Alfonsina Cetti
A Difficult Life Plot Summary
What happens in A Difficult Life from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A sweeping, intimate chronicle of Italy’s postwar transformation, seen through one man’s evolving ideals and the changing world around him.
Silvio Alberto Sordi Magnozzi is a young Roman who rises from the poverty of wartime Italy to become a voice in a country redefining itself. In 1944, as a second lieutenant in the Royal Army near Lake Como, he narrowly escapes a shooting by a German soldier, only to be saved by Elena Lea Massari Pavinato, the hotel owner’s daughter. Elena kills the German with an iron, and she quietly guides Silvio to safety at her late grandparents’ mill. For three months they live as lovers, a brief oasis of warmth in the midst of war, before Silvio slips away to rejoin the partisan struggle.
Full summary
The whole story of A Difficult Life, scene by scene
A Difficult Life Box Office
A Difficult Life grossed $71,630 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$71.6K
- US & Canada
- $71.6K
A Difficult Life Trailers & Videos
The trailer of A Difficult Life.
How Well Do You Know A Difficult Life?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the profession of Silvio Magnozzi at the beginning of the film?
A Difficult Life Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Une vie difficile” and “A siker ára”.
- Also known as
-
- Une vie difficile
- A siker ára
- Das Leben ist schwer
- Una vida difícil
- 艰辛的生活
- Uma Vida Difícil
- Těžký život
- Журналист из Рима
- Życie nie jest łatwe
Seen A Difficult Life?
Movies Like A Difficult Life
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Difficult Years, It’s a Hard Life and Life Is Beautiful.
A Difficult Life FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of A Difficult Life, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Difficult Life?
A Difficult Life runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).
When was A Difficult Life released?
A Difficult Life was released on December 19, 1961.
Who directed A Difficult Life?
A Difficult Life was directed by Dino Risi.
More films by Dino Risi Who is in the cast of A Difficult Life?
A Difficult Life stars Alberto Sordi as Silvio Magnozzi, Lea Massari as Elena Pavinato and Franco Fabrizi as Franco Simonini, among 18 credited actors.
How much did A Difficult Life make at the box office?
A Difficult Life grossed $71,630 worldwide.
Does A Difficult Life have a post-credit scene?
No. A Difficult Life has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is A Difficult Life in?
The original language of A Difficult Life is Italian.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
