C'eravamo tanto amati

C'eravamo Tanto Amati, or We All Loved Each Other So Much, is a 1974 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Ettore Scola. Written by Age & Scarpelli and featuring a stellar star cast comprising Nino Manfredi, Vittorio Gassman, and Stefania Sandrelli, the movie offers a commentary on modern life and politics in Italy through a shared background of World War II.

The movie is a heartfelt narration encompassing decades of Italian post-war history reflected through the intertwined lives of three close friends, Gianni Perego (Vittorio Gassman), Antonio Pisana (Nino Manfredi), and Nicola Blasi (Stefano Satta Flores). All three protagonists endure the harsh realities of war while fighting as partisans against the Nazis. The different paths they take after the war forms the crux of the narrative, tied together by their enduring friendship, their common love for the beautiful and enchanting Luciana Zanon (Stefania Sandrelli, best known for her roles in 'The Conformist' and 'Jamón Jamón') and the changing social and political scenario of Italy.

Nicola Blasi, a dedicated idealist and intellectual, clings onto his moral principles, idealizing a society where freedom and equality reign. His counterpart is Gianni Perego, an unscrupulous layer and staunch opportunist, who adapts himself perfectly to the emerging capitalist society. Antonio Pisana, the common man, finds himself oscillating between these two extremes, often left disillusioned.

Acting as a social mirror, the movie flawlessly transitions from one timeline to another as it explores the evolving dynamics of friendship, love, and society. It showcases the dichotomies each character faces, juxtaposing their self-interests, shared affections, and the socio-political upheaval they witness during the course of their lives. Notably, the film discusses the significance of love, idealism, survival, and the concept of miraculous evils in the contemporary world.

Scola also delves deep into the world of cinema throughout the film. The director cleverly interweaves popular cinematic tropes, references to Italian classic films, and renowned filmmakers, notably neorealists. The love for cinema permeates throughout the movie, standing as a forth character reflecting and connecting the three protagonists' lives. A distinctly meta scene where two characters join to watch a film is one clear example of how the cinema is used as a narrative tool.

The film offers captivating performances from its star cast. Manfredi shines in his portrayal of a true everyman, a role familiar from his previous films like 'The Consequences of Love.' Gassman, exhibiting a clear chemistry with Manfredi, plays wonderfully the character that changes the most drastically from the wartime militant to an ambitious lawyer. Stefano Satta Flores provides an eloquent portrayal of the incessantly optimistic intellectual, while Stefania Sandrelli leaves an indelible impression with her hypnotic charm and elegance.

The cinematography by Claudio Cirillo adds depth to the narrative and enhances the overall flavor of the movie. The use of imagery, coupled with expert lighting and framing, contributes significantly to the movie's overall impact. The film’s score, crafted by Armando Trovajoli, complements the film's thematic elements and character arcs beautifully, leaving a lingering essence of melancholy and nostalgia in many sequences.

C'eravamo Tanto Amati offers more than a common friendship tale. It is a film that tells the story of people, relationships, and a time that has passed. While it is deeply rooted in the Italian context, the universal themes it tackles, such as friendship, love, idealism, and the passage of time, strike a chord with a global audience. It is not just a journey of characters but a journey of an entire society, an era, and a nation.

Evidently, this film is not only for lovers of Italian neorealism but also for every individual intrigued by the interplay of history, society, and personal life. Whether you are new to the works of Ettore Scola or are a long-standing fan, C'eravamo Tanto Amati is a cinematic treat that is definitely worth a watch. It leaves you with a profound sense of nostalgia and the reality of the relentless passage of time, summarized in the film’s tagline: "We all loved each other so much, we still believe we love each other."