Filmhouse/New Kalamata Cinema Club-DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE

Divorce Italian Style (1961)

Ferdinando Cefalù, an impoverished Sicilian nobleman, finds himself trapped in a loveless marriage while hopelessly infatuated with his young cousin. In early 1960s, in Italy, however, divorce is illegal. Faced with no legal way out, Ferdinando begins to imagine a far more "practical" solution to free himself from his wife.

Director Pietro Germi delivers one of the sharpest Italian satires of the era, taking aim at male vanity, social hypocrisy, Catholic conservatism, and the so-called "code of honour." Sporting his trademark moustache and a perfectly measured air of aristocratic decay, Marcello Mastroianni gives an unforgettable performance, creating a character who is at once ridiculous, charming, and deeply revealing.

Divorce Italian Style is a black comedy of remarkable elegance and biting wit. While its outrageous plot invites laughter, beneath the humour lies a penetrating critique of a society that turns desire, honour, and the law into a theatre of hypocrisy.

The film became one of the greatest international successes of Italian comedy. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and received additional Academy Award nominations for Best Director (Pietro Germi) and Best Actor (Marcello Mastroianni). It was also presented at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was honoured as Best Comedy, cementing its reputation as a classic of Italian satirical cinema.

Screening Information

Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2026
Film: Divorce Italian Style
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Age Rating: 15+
Year: 1961
Country: Italy
Running Time: 105 minutes

Director: Pietro Germi

Starring:

• Marcello Mastroianni
• Daniela Rocca
• Stefania Sandrelli

Time: 9:30 p.m.
Venue: Vista Marina

Admission

• General admission: €5
• Reduced admission: €3 for the unemployed, university students, and members of large families
• Free admission: Children and teenagers under 18 years old