italy-W. Germany (1971): War/Drama

Two wealthy Jewish families fall victim to Fascist reactionaries as terror grips the country during World War II. One family patriarch is a noted attorney, and the son of the other family joins the Italian Army. Because he is Jewish, he is sent to the Russian front and dies in battle. The others meet their fate in concentration camps at the hands of Nazis. Whatever side the families decide to join to save themselves fails because of their Jewish ancestry in this wartime tragedy. The story is taken from the novel by author Giorgio Bassani, who helped write part of the screenplay before renouncing the project. Vittorio De Sica directs. (Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide)

· Best Foreign Language Film 1971: (Italy) (Artur Brauner, Arthur Cohn & Gianni Hecht Lucari - producers)

· Writing (Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1971: Ugo Pirro, Vittorio Bonicelli

2 nominations, 1 Award