Review of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963) by Byron B — 21 Apr 2009

This movie is made up of three segments all starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.

In the first, Loren plays Adelina, a woman who feels more well when she is pregnant than when she is not. It's a very funny story about using pregnancy to avoid jail time. The segment is about some serious societal issues like private debt, collectors, not practicing birth control, the poor's ability to afford child care, and neighborhood charity. It is all presented in a humorous fashion. And this segment seems to contain the most of De Sica's neo-realist style.

In the second, Loren plays Anna in a short head-scratching bit that I felt pulled the whole movie down. Most of it is shot in a car and being so short the characters are not given the chance to develop much.

In the third, Loren plays Mara, a prostitute. Mastroianni is a wealthy, but childish, excitable client. An old woman lives next door and her grandson has come to visit before going away to school to become a priest. He innocently falls for Mara with no idea of what she is and changes his mind about going to seminary. Mara and the old woman exchange angry words and then eventually arrange a deal. If she can help convince the young man to still go away to become a priest, she will be abstinent for a week. Mastroianni keeps on being interrupted in his sessions with Mara and is just along for the ride. This segment is also rather funny at times.