The central irony is a man visiting his dying father while simultaneously cheating on his wife, highlighting the "liars" mentioned in the English title.
(released in English as Lovers and Liars ) is a fascinating 1979 Italian comedy-drama directed by Mario Monicelli . While often viewed on the surface as a lighthearted rom-com, it carries a deep cinematic lineage—it was originally a project conceived by Federico Fellini in 1957 following the death of his own father. Origins and Fellini’s "Ghost" Project
The film’s screenplay was rooted in a very personal experience for Fellini: a trip he took to Rimini in 1956 for his father’s funeral. He collaborated on the initial script with Pier Paolo Pasolini and had intended for Sophia Loren to star. However, Fellini eventually abandoned the project to focus on La Dolce Vita . Two decades later, the rights were sold to producer Alberto Grimaldi, and Monicelli—the master of commedia all'italiana —took the helm. Plot and Character Dynamics Viaggio con Anita
The story follows Guido (Giancarlo Giangiannini), a married man who travels from Rome to his hometown to visit his dying father. He brings along Anita (Goldie Hawn), a free-spirited American traveler he has just met.
Goldie Hawn’s Anita acts as a catalyst for Guido's internal struggle. Her uninhibited, "modern" American sensibility clashes with the heavy, guilt-ridden atmosphere of Guido's Italian upbringing. Cinematic Significance The central irony is a man visiting his
Monicelli strips away some of the surrealism one might expect from a Fellini script, instead applying his signature blend of humor and social pessimism.
This remains Hawn's only foreign-produced film, showcasing her ability to play a role that is both zany and emotionally grounding against a more cynical European backdrop. Two decades later, the rights were sold to
The film features a notable score by the legendary Ennio Morricone , which helps balance the film's transition from light comedy to the more somber reflections on mortality and family.