''Anima nera'' ("Black Soul") is a 1962 Italian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such a ...

. It is based on the stage play with the same name written by

Giuseppe Patroni Griffi Giuseppe Patroni Griffi (26 February 1921 – 15 December 2005) was an Italian playwright, screenwriter, director and author. He was born in Naples in an aristocratic family and moved to Rome immediately after the end of World War II and spent ...

.Gianni Rondolino. ''Rossellini''. UTET, 2006. .

Plot

After living a questionable and reckless life for many years, Adriano decides to marry Marcella, a girl from a well-off family. However, Marcella's family disapproves and cuts ties. Adriano's troubled past resurfaces when Olga, a woman who used to support him, comes back asking for repayment of an old debt. To meet these obligations, Adriano needs to accept an inheritance from a nobleman in

Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...

. This reveals a complicated relationship he had with the nobleman. When the truth is revealed to Marcella by the deceased's sister, she is disgusted and decides to leave Adriano. At this point, he starts a relationship with Mimosa, a woman with a questionable reputation. Regretting her decision, Marcella returns home to find Mimosa there. Mimosa reproaches her for not understanding Adriano, and Marcella seems to accept the criticism. She attempts to rebuild their relationship but sets the condition that Adriano must reject the inheritance. Despite her efforts to convince him, Adriano, bored, goes along with it, only pretending to listen.

Cast

Vittorio Gassman Vittorio Gassman (; born Gassmann; 1 September 1922 – 29 June 2000), popularly known as , was an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the greatest Italian actors, whose career includes both important producti ...

: Adriano Zucchelli * Nadja Tiller: Mimosa * Annette Stroyberg: Marcella * Yvonne Sanson: Olga Manfredi * Tony Brown: Guidino * Rina Braido: Lucia *

Eleonora Rossi Drago Eleonora Rossi Drago, born Palmina Omiccioli, (23 September 1925 – 2 December 2007) was an Italian film actress. She was born in Quinto al Mare, Genoa, Italy, and had the leading role in '' Le amiche''. She appeared in '' The Facts of Mur ...

: Alessandra

References

External links

* 1962 films Italian drama films 1962 drama films Films directed by Roberto Rossellini Italian films based on plays 1960s Italian films {{1960s-drama-film-stub