Sunflower (Italian: I Girasoli) is a 1970 Italian drama film directed by Vittorio De Sica, written by Tonino Guerra, Giorgi Mdivani, and Cesare Zavattini, and starring Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, and Lyudmila Savelyeva.
Premise[]
An Italian bride (Sophia Loren) finds her long-lost soldier husband (Marcello Mastroianni) living in Moscow with amnesia and a wife (Lyudmila Saveleva) and daughter.
Cast[]
- Sophia Loren – Giovanna
- Marcello Mastroianni – Antonio
- Lyudmila Savelyeva – Masha (Maria)
- Galina Andreyeva – Valentina, Soviet official
- Anna Carena – Antonio's mother
- Germano Longo – Ettore
- Nadya Serednichenko – Woman in sunflower fields
- Glauco Onorato – Returning soldier
- Silvano Tranquilli – Italian worker in Russia
- Marisa Traversi – Prostitute
- Gunars Cilinskis – Russian Ministry Official
- Carlo Ponti, Jr. – Giovanna's baby
- Pippo Starnazza – Italian official
- Dino Peretti
- Giorgio Basso
Soundtrack[]
The film's soundtrack was produced by Henry Mancini, recorded in 1969-1970, and released with the filmed in 1970. It was recorded in Avco Records and it lasts for a total of 31 minutes and 15 seconds.
Track listing[]
SIDE A[]
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Love Theme From "Sunflower" | 2:26 |
| 02 | Masha's Theme | 1:54 |
| 03 | Giovanna | 1:54 |
| 04 | The Search | 4:20 |
| 05 | Love In The Sand (Love Theme From "Sunflower") | 3:00 |
| 06 | New Home In Moscow | 1:20 |
SIDE B[]
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 07 | Two Girls ("Masha's Theme And Love Theme From "Sunflower") | 2:07 |
| 08 | The Retreat | 5:10 |
| 09 | The Invitation | 2:04 |
| 10 | Masha Finds Antonio (Masha's Theme) | 3:35 |
| 11 | The Parting In Milan (Love Theme From "Sunflower") | 3:23 |
Production and release[]
Production[]
Some scenes were filmed near Moscow, while others near Poltava, a regional center in Ukraine.
Release[]
The film was released on 19 March 1970 in five cities in Italy. It was later on released to another thirteen cities during Easter vacation.
Records[]
- It was the first western movie to be filmed in the USSR.
- It was the first Italian film to be dubbed and screened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Awards[]
- David di Donatello: Best Actress (Sophia Loren)
- Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Score