Set in Italy, the film follows the lives and interactions of two boys/men, one born a bastard of peasant stock (Depardieu), the other born to a land owner (de Niro). The drama spans from 1900 to about 1945, and focuses mainly on the rise of Fascism and the peasants’ eventual reaction by supporting Communism, and how these events shape the destinies of the two main characters.

Novecento (1976)
  • Rating: (10,771 votes)
  • Runtime:245 minutes
  • Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
  • Countries:Italy, France, West Germany
  • Actors:
    Alfredo Berlinghieri
    Robert De Niro
    Olmo Dalcò (as Gerard Depardieu)
    Gérard Depardieu
    Ada Fiastri Paulhan
    Dominique Sanda
    Sister Desolata
    Francesca Bertini
    Regina
    Laura Betti
    Ottavio Berlinghieri
    Werner Bruhns
    Neve
    Stefania Casini
    Leo Dalcò
    Sterling Hayden
    Anita
    Anna Henkel
    Amelia
    Ellen Schwiers
  • Genres:Drama, History
  • Producer:
    Alberto Grimaldi
    producer  
  • Plots: Set in Italy, the film follows the lives and interactions of two boys/men, one born a bastard of peasant stock (Depardieu), the other born to a land owner (de Niro). The drama spans from 1900 to about 1945, and focuses mainly on the rise of Fascism and the peasants' eventual reaction by supporting Communism, and how these events shape the destinies of the two main characters. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Novecento
  • User's comment:Over-reaching epic with memorable vignettes. by jckruize

    Gifted filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, along with his collaborators, probably bit off more than they could chew with this massive epic of politics, revolution, love and war, but it's nevertheless a fascinating entertainment for those with the constitution to sit through at least 4 hours (the original long version is 5 hours +!) of imperfect dubbing.

    Robert DeNiro and Gerard Depardieu play, respectively, a rich landowner and a peasant, born on the same day of the new century. The story of their friendship takes them from bucolic idyll to the rise of Fascism, bloody war and its aftermath, and back again. Veterans Burt Lancaster and Sterling Hayden play their grandfathers, Dominique Sanda is the woman they both love, and Donald Sutherland inhabits the cartoonish character of Attila, their Fascist nemesis, with trademark fish-eyed malice and depravity.

    Gorgeous cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and a gentle, evocative score by Ennio Morricone lend this disjointed story more appeal and dramatic clarity than it might otherwise merit. If the simplistic politics at the end leaves you cold, there will have hopefully been enough vivid and touching scenes along the way to make it worthwhile.


  • Quotes: Alfredo as a Child: What are you doing? Olmo as a Child: I'm screwing the earth. Ada Fiastri Paulhan: I love the smell of earth!
  • Also known as: 1900 (Brazil), 1900 (Denmark - imdb display title), 1900 (Finland), 1900 (France), 1900 (Greece), 1900 (International - imdb display title, English title), 1900 (Peru - imdb display title), 1900 (Portugal - imdb display title), 1900 (Sweden), 1900 (Turkey - Turkish title), 1900 (USA), 1900 - Gewalt, Macht, Leidenschaft (Austria - first part title), 1900 - Gewalt, Macht, Leidenschaft (West Germany - first part title), 1900 - Kampf, Liebe, Hoffnung (Austria - second part title), 1900 - Kampf, Liebe, Hoffnung (West Germany - second part title), Novecento (Argentina), Novecento (Spain), 1900 - Deuxième acte (France), 1900 de Bertolucci (Brazil), 1900: Seconde époque (France - TV title), Dvadeseti vek (Serbia - imdb display title), Huszadik század (Hungary), Nineteen Hundred (USA - alternative spelling), Novecento - Atto I (Italy - first part title), Novecento - Atto II (Italy - second part title), Wiek XX (Poland - imdb display title),

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