The Lovemakers (film)

The Lovemakers
The Lovemakers
	Poster
Directed by	Mauro Bolognini
Written by	Mario Pratesi; Vasco Pratolini
Produced by	Alfredo Bini
Starring	Claudia Cardinale; Jean-Paul Belmondo
Cinematography	Leonida Barboni
Edited by	Nino Baragli
Music by	Piero Piccioni
Distributed by	Titanus; Arco Film; Galatea Film
Release date	13 June 1961 (France);
Country	Italy
Language	Italian language
Box office	698,077 admissions (France)

The Lovemakers (Italian: La viaccia) is a 1961 Italian drama film directed by Mauro Bolognini based on a novel by Mario Pratesi. The film which stars Claudia Cardinale and Jean-Paul Belmondo, was entered into the 1961 Cannes Film Festival.^[2]

Plot

The original Italian La viaccia is the name of the family farm which motivates the plot. The death of a wealthy patriarch in 1885 sets off an interfamily power struggle. Son Ferdinando buys out his other relatives in order to gain full control over the dead man's property. But Ferdinando's country-bumpkin nephew Amerigo holds out. Amerigo's stance is weakened when he heads for the city and meets prostitute Bianca. To support her in the manner in which she is accustomed, Amerigo steals from his uncle. Disgraced in the eyes of his family, Amerigo decides to stay near his beloved Bianca by becoming a bouncer in her brothel.