Before Al Pacino’s Oscar-winning performance in the 1992 Hollywood version, there was Profumo di donna—the 1974 Italian original directed by Dino Risi, based on the novel Il buio e il miele (“Darkness and Honey”) by Giovanni Arpino. This version, though less flashy, is deeply moving and steeped in humanistic European cinema traditions. Let’s dive into its essence and legacy.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: A Journey Begins
The story centers around Captain Fausto Consolo (played masterfully by Vittorio Gassman), a blind and embittered former Italian army officer, and Giovanni Bertazzi (Alessandro Momo), a shy, respectful young soldier assigned to accompany him from Turin to Naples. Consolo is sarcastic, volatile, and prone to bursts of poetic brilliance—and beneath the gruff surface lies a tragic and complex soul.
The Road Trip Through Italy
As the unlikely duo travels south, the film becomes both a literal and emotional journey. They meet various people—some amused by Consolo, others unsettled. The trip is peppered with moments that range from hilarious (such as Consolo’s cutting jabs and flirtations) to quietly devastating (his growing darkness as the reason for the journey becomes clearer).
Giovanni grows during this journey, learning about life, love, dignity, and moral complexity through his interaction with Fausto. The dynamic between them becomes the emotional heart of the movie.
The Dark Purpose
Eventually, it’s revealed that Consolo is not simply traveling for leisure. He intends to meet an old comrade, also blind from a similar incident, and make a suicide pact. This revelation adds urgency and emotional weight to the journey. Giovanni, horrified but empathetic, tries to dissuade him.
The Final Moments
In Naples, after an intense and emotional confrontation between life and despair, Consolo chooses not to go through with the suicide. Whether it is Giovanni’s decency, or a rekindling of self-worth, the film ends on a cautiously optimistic note. The captain’s transformation is subtle but deeply felt.
Movie Ending
Captain Fausto, having rediscovered some spark of dignity or meaning, walks away with Giovanni into the bustling Neapolitan streets. There’s no dramatic resolution, but a quiet suggestion that life—however painful—is still worth choosing. It’s a poignant ending, grounded in human emotion rather than theatrics.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, the 1974 Scent of a Woman has no post-credits scenes. This was typical of the era and the style of filmmaking—once the story ends, the credits roll and the lights come up. No need to stick around hoping for extra scenes.
Type of Movie
This is a drama, rich with psychological depth, tinged with dark comedy, and underscored by a poignant examination of disability, human pride, and personal transformation. It belongs firmly to the tradition of Italian auteur cinema.
Cast
- Vittorio Gassman as Captain Fausto Consolo
- Alessandro Momo as Giovanni Bertazzi
- Agostina Belli as Sara
- Moira Orfei as Woman in the hotel
- Franco Ricci as Ciccio
- Elisabetta Virgili as Livia
Film Music and Composer
The music was composed by Armando Trovajoli, whose score is elegant, melancholic, and perfectly attuned to the emotional landscape of the film. It complements the journey, often subtly evoking longing and sorrow without overwhelming the narrative.
Filming Locations
Filming took place across Italy, including Turin, Rome, and Naples. These cities aren’t just backdrops—they embody the journey itself, with each stop representing a different emotional phase. Naples, chaotic and alive, plays a critical role in the climax and thematic closure.
Awards and Nominations
- Nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (1976)
- Vittorio Gassman won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival
- The film was also a major winner at the David di Donatello Awards (Italy’s Oscars), including Best Director and Best Actor.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Vittorio Gassman had to undergo training to portray blindness authentically, spending time with visually impaired individuals.
- The film was loosely adapted from a darker novel, and the screenplay softened some elements to make Fausto more sympathetic.
- The chemistry between Gassman and Momo was reportedly very natural—tragically, Alessandro Momo died in a motorcycle accident the same year the film was released.
- Director Dino Risi was one of the leading figures in Commedia all’italiana, and this film marked a more dramatic turn in his career.
Inspirations and References
The movie is directly inspired by Giovanni Arpino’s novel “Il buio e il miele“. The book is more nihilistic and less redemptive, emphasizing existential despair over growth. Risi’s adaptation leans more into themes of dignity, healing, and intergenerational understanding.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no publicly available alternate endings. However, early drafts of the script reportedly had a bleaker conclusion, closer to the novel. These were rewritten to provide a more hopeful cinematic tone.
Book Adaptations and Differences
In the novel, Fausto is even more misanthropic and the tone darker. The suicide pact in the book is more central, and the story offers less redemption. The film adaptation adds warmth and allows for character growth, turning what could be a bleak narrative into something deeply humane.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The hotel scene where Fausto, with wicked charm, seduces a woman despite his blindness.
- The train journey, filled with philosophical debates and witty banter.
- The emotional confrontation in Naples where the truth of the suicide pact is revealed.
- The bittersweet closing scene as they walk away into the street.
Iconic Quotes
- Fausto: “Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I don’t understand.”
- Giovanni: “You see better than many who have eyes.”
- Fausto (to a woman): “You wear your perfume like a weapon.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The title Scent of a Woman is literal—Fausto has heightened olfactory senses and often describes women’s presence by their perfumes.
- Several side characters are metaphors for different aspects of Italian society in transition during the 70s—modernity, tradition, youth, and decay.
Trivia
- The film was a major influence on the 1992 American remake starring Al Pacino.
- Dino Risi was known for mixing comedy and tragedy, and this film walks that line more gracefully than many of his others.
- The film’s popularity in Europe was immense, and it helped boost the profile of Italian cinema abroad during the 70s.
- Vittorio Gassman considered this one of the most challenging roles of his career.
Why Watch?
If you’re a fan of deep character studies, Italian cinema, or simply want to see the original story that inspired the 1992 film, this is a must-watch. It’s less about plot twists and more about raw human emotion, growth, and dignity. It also provides a look into post-war Italy, blind masculinity, and existential struggle.
Director’s Other Movies
- Il Sorpasso (1962)
- A Difficult Life (1961)
- The Easy Life (1962)
- The Tiger and the Pussycat (1967)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Conformist (1970) – Bernardo Bertolucci
- The Bicycle Thieves (1948) – Vittorio De Sica
- La Dolce Vita (1960) – Federico Fellini
- Cinema Paradiso (1988) – Giuseppe Tornatore
- The Great Beauty (2013) – Paolo Sorrentino
- Scent of a Woman (1992) – Martin Brest, as a comparison piece
