The Italian Embassy Culture Centre is thrilled to announce the centenary celebrations of Marcello Mastroianni, one of Italian cinema’s most beloved icons, with a series of events in New Delhi. Launching the celebrations is a special screening of the restored 4K copy of La Notte at the India Habitat Centre, a film that remains one of the most iconic in Mastroianni’s storied career and a defining work of Italian cinema.

This special screening of La Notte, directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, also commemorates the “Week of Italian Language,” a symbolic gesture that underscores Mastroianni’s contribution not only to cinema but also to Italian cultural heritage. In honor of this milestone, Iaia Forte, a celebrated Italian actress known internationally for The Great Beauty, will perform a recitation of the famous letter that Jeanne Moreau’s character reads to Mastroianni in the film—a scene lauded for its deep emotional resonance and literary brilliance.

Andrea Anastasio, Director of the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, emphasized the significance of choosing La Notte for the opening event. “La Notte, filmed during the economic boom of Italy in the early 1960s, explores the complexities of modern life and the existential crises it brings, focusing on the dissolution of relationships against a backdrop of societal change,” he explained. “Antonioni and Mastroianni, as a pairing, brought unparalleled depth to these themes. This film addresses timeless issues—life, death, change—and remains a profound reflection of both personal and societal struggles.”

The retrospective honoring Mastroianni will unfold in two phases, beginning in January next year and continuing through March 2025. The Italian Embassy Cultural Centre will host an intimate screening of non-restored classics, offering cinephiles a rare chance to experience Mastroianni’s works as originally intended. In March, the Habitat International Film Festival will showcase restored masterpieces from the Italian National Film Archive, Cineteca di Bologna, offering a grand tribute to Mastroianni’s legacy. This carefully curated retrospective will feature at least 20 films, including eight restored titles, spanning the actor’s dynamic career in Italian cinema.

Mastroianni, hailed as the “King of Italian cinema,” had a remarkable career that spanned over five decades and 147 films from 1939 to 1996. Known worldwide for his ability to move effortlessly between comedy, drama, and period films, Mastroianni collaborated with the greatest directors of his time, including Luchino Visconti, Ettore Scola, and his most renowned collaborators, Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni. He achieved international fame with Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960) and 8½ (1963), which established him as a global cinematic icon. In La Notte, as in these masterpieces, Mastroianni captured the complexities of modern existence, cementing his status as a versatile and profound actor.

Mastroianni’s talent earned him multiple prestigious honors, including two BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globes, and dual Best Actor accolades at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals. As the first actor to receive an Academy Award nomination for a non-English-language role, with three nominations in total (Divorce Italian Style, A Special Day, and Dark Eyes), he carved an indelible mark on the global stage. Mastroianni also forged a celebrated on-screen partnership with Sophia Loren, with whom he starred in eight films across four decades. Their enduring cinematic chemistry remains one of Italian cinema’s most cherished legacies.

Andrea Anastasio added, “Mastroianni’s unique ability to embody both comedy and drama, to traverse the eras from historical pieces to modern reflections, reflects the multi-faceted nature of Italian culture. His legacy is an enduring testament to Italy’s cinematic brilliance.”

Although he achieved widespread fame, Mastroianni largely resisted Hollywood’s allure, staying firmly rooted in Italian cinema. His choice to remain an Italian thespian throughout his career contributed significantly to his status as a cultural ambassador for Italy. Recognized not only for his artistry but also for his service to Italian culture, he was awarded several civil honors, including the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Italy’s highest-ranking knighthood.

Mastroianni’s centenary celebrations, beginning with La Notte serve as a reminder of his profound influence on world cinema. Revered for his ability to bring both charisma and subtlety to his roles, he represents a bridge between the Italian neorealist tradition and the international art cinema movement, making his legacy invaluable not just to Italy but to the global film community.

(Murtaza Ali Khan is an award-winning film critic who has served on the jury of the 69th and the 70th National Awards. He has been covering cinema, arts, and culture for the last decade and a half. He can be reached at murtaza.jmi@gmail.com)