''Family Diary'' () is a 1962 Italian film directed by

Valerio Zurlini Valerio Zurlini (19 March 1926 – 26 October 1982) was an Italian stage and film director and screenwriter. Biography During his law studies in Rome, he started working in the theatre. In 1943, he joined the Italian resistance. Zurlini bec ...

and is based on the novel of the same name by

Vasco Pratolini Vasco Pratolini (19 October 1913 – 12 January 1991) was an Italian writer of the 20th century. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times. Biography Born in Florence, Pratolini worked at various jobs before entering the l ...

. Enrico, played by

Marcello Mastroianni Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (26 September 1924Come da lui stesso dichiarato a 1'10" dquesta intervista/ref> – 19 December 1996) was an Italian actor. He is generally regarded as one of Italy's most iconic male performers of the 20t ...

, is a struggling artist in 1945 Rome who recently lost his brother, Lorenzo (played by

Jacques Perrin Jacques Perrin (; born Jacques André Simonet ; 13 July 1941 – 21 April 2022) was a French actor and film producer. He was occasionally credited as Jacques Simonet. Early life Jacques André Simonet was born on the Boulevard Port-Royal in ...

). Enrico recalls their tumultuous relationship and examines grief,

existentialism Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and valu ...

, and the importance of familial ties. ''Family Diary'' is an adaptation of the 1947 semi-autobiographical novel by

, ''Cronaca familiare'', or, in English, ''Two Brothers.'' The film was awarded with the

Golden Lion The Golden Lion () is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguished prizes. In 1970, a ...

at the 1962 Venice International Film Festival and it has been acclaimed as one of Zurlini's greatest achievements.

Plot

plays Enrico, a struggling journalist in 1945 Rome. He receives a phone call informing him that his younger brother Lorenzo (

) has died. Enrico recalls their long and difficult relationship. Enrico was raised by their poor but warm-hearted grandmother (Sylvie), while Lorenzo was raised as a gentleman by a wealthy local aristocrat. Reunited in the

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

of the 1930s, Enrico becomes his spoiled brother's keeper, forever haunted by a sense of guilt and responsibility towards a man he both hates and loves.

Cast

- Enrico *

- Lorenzo * Sylvie - Grandmother *

Salvo Randone Salvatore Randone, known professionally as Salvo Randone (25 September 1906 – 6 March 1991), was an Italian stage, film and television actor. Biography Born in Syracuse, Sicily, to state official Pasquale Randone and his wife Maria, Randon ...

- Salocchi *

Valeria Ciangottini Valeria Ciangottini (born 6 August 1945) is an Italian film, television, and stage actress. Life and career Born in Rome, at fourteen years old Ciangottini was chosen by Federico Fellini, after he noticed her at the exit of the school, for the ...

- Enzina *

Serena Vergano Serena Vergano born Adalgisa Serena Maggiora Vergano (25 August 1943 in Milan, Italy), is an Italian actress. She was the muse of the Barcelona School of Film, acting in many of the films of this movement. Career Daughter of the director Al ...

- Hospital Nun *

Marco Guglielmi Marco Guglielmi (6 October 1926 – 28 December 2005) was an Italian actor, screenwriter and author. Life and career Born Augusto Guglielmi in Sanremo, he graduated from ragioneria, then he enrolled at the university in the faculty of econom ...

* Franca Pasut *

Miranda Campa Miranda Campa (31 January 1914 – 7 May 1989) was a Swiss-born Italian actress and voice actress. Life and career Born Liliana Campa Capodaglio in Geneva, the niece of actors Pio Campa and Wanda Capodaglio, Campa studied acting at the ...

* Nino Fuscagni * Marcella Valeri

References

External links

*

Martha King's English translation of ''Cronaca familiare'' as ''Family Chronicle.'' 1962 films Italian drama films 1960s Italian-language films 1962 drama films Golden Lion winners Titanus films Films directed by Valerio Zurlini Films set in Florence 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-film-stub