| The Lovemakers | |
| Director: | Mauro Bolognini |
| Producer: | Alfredo Bini |
| Starring: | Claudia Cardinale Jean-Paul Belmondo |
| Music: | Piero Piccioni |
| Cinematography: | Leonida Barboni |
| Editing: | Nino Baragli |
| Distributor: | Titanus Arco Film Galatea Film |
| Country: | Italy |
| Language: | Italian language |
| Gross: | 698,077 admissions (France)[1] |
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]
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.