A Brief Vacation (Italian: Una breve vacanza) is a 1973 melodrama film directed by Vittorio De Sica. The screenplay was written by Cesare Zavattini, was inspired by an Apollinaire adage ("Sickness is the vacation of the poor"). The film addresses issues such as the health care system, labor conditions, spousal satisfaction, and class struggle.
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Plot
A female factory worker from Calabria falls ill on the job and is prescribed a stay at a mountain retreat. She goes despite her husband's wishes, leaving behind her thankless work shift and her frustrating in-laws, but also her three children.
Cast
Florinda Bolkan as Clara Mataro
Renato Salvatori as Franco Mataro, the husband
Daniel Quenaud as Luigi, Clara's lover
José María Prada as Dr. Ciranni
Teresa Gimpera as Gina
Hugo Blanco as brother-in-law
Julia Peña as Edvige
Miranda Campa as Nurse Guidotti
Angela Cardile as the redhead
Anna Carena as mother-in-law
Monica Guerritore as Maria
Maria Mizar as Nurse Garin
Alessandro Romanazzi as son
Adriana Asti as Scanziani
Christian De Sica as Mariani
Critical reception
The New York Times said in its review, "The director's personal warmth is unwavering throughout, and the film makes an honorable ending to his career."
The film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film by the U.S. National Board of Review.
Florinda Bolkan won the inaugural Best Actress prize from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for her performance.