The 1981 film (internationally known as Disobedience or Her Disobedience ) is an Italian-French erotic drama directed by Aldo Lado . Based on the novel by Alberto Moravia , the film explored themes of political disillusionment and sexual awakening in post-fascist Northern Italy. Film Overview and Cast
| Category | Details | |----------|----------| | | La disubbidienza | | English Translation | Disobedience | | Year | 1970 (Italian release) | | Country | Italy | | Language | Italian | | Runtime | 97 min (≈ 1 h 37 min) | | Genre | Drama / Historical | | Director | Alberto Lattuada | | Screenplay | Alberto Lattuada, Mario Gallo, Ennio De Concini | | Based on | The novel La disubbidienza by Francesco Piccolo (1969) | | Producer | Luigi Rovere | | Cinematography | Gian Paolo Barboni | | Music | Ennio Morricone (uncredited, early‑career contribution) | | Production Companies | Cineriz , Rizzoli Film | | Distributor | Cineriz (Italy) | | IMDb Rating | 6.8 / 10 (≈ 2 500 votes, as of Apr 2026) | | Main Cast | - Adriano Celentano as Lorenzo - Claudia Cardinale (voice‑over cameo) - Francesco Nuti as Gianni - Laura Betti as Marta | | Awards / Festival | Nominated for Best Italian Film at the 1971 Venice Film Festival (official selection) | | Restoration | 4K digital restoration completed in 2023 by Cineteca di Bologna ; now streaming on MUBI and The Criterion Channel in “High‑Definition” (1080p/4K) | la disubbidienza 1981 imdb extra quality
The film's title, "La Disubbidienza" (translated as "The Disobedience"), is a powerful metaphor for the act of challenging established power structures. By choosing to disobey, Don Luigi embarks on a path of self-discovery, one that leads him to re-evaluate his relationship with the Church and his community. La disubbidienza The 1981 film (internationally known as
| Theme | How It Appears in the Film | Critical Insight | |-------|---------------------------|------------------| | | Lorenzo’s continuous clashes with the parish priest and the local mayor illustrate the struggle for personal agency in a rigid social hierarchy. | Scholars argue the film foreshadows the 1970s “Anarchic” wave in Italian cinema, aligning Lorenzo with the archetypal anti‑hero of the period. | | Social Mobility & Class | The contrast between the affluent landowners and the peasant workers is visualized through costuming and set design. Lorenzo’s illicit activities are portrayed as a desperate attempt to climb the social ladder. | Critics note the film’s subtle critique of the “Southern Question” —the persistent economic divide in Italy. | | Religion and Moral Ambiguity | The Church is both a moral anchor for villagers and a source of oppression for Lorenzo. The film never outright vilifies faith but shows its institutional misuse. | The nuanced treatment earned praise from both secular and religious reviewers for avoiding simplistic polemics. | | War & Disillusionment | Flashbacks to WWI trenches reveal Lorenzo’s trauma, influencing his later rebelliousness. | The war serves as a metaphor for the broader societal breakdown and the loss of traditional values. | | Gender & Power | Marta, the schoolteacher, embodies progressive ideas. Her relationship with Lorenzo is both romantic and intellectual, challenging gender norms. | Feminist film historians see Marta as an early representation of the “New Woman” in Italian cinema. | Interviews with director Aldo Lado (who died in
The film La disubbidienza (often catalogued as a 1970‑71 production) is listed on IMDb under the title “La Disubbidienza” with a production year of 1970 . Some databases mistakenly cite “1981,” but the correct release window is the early 1970s. This feature compiles the most reliable, high‑quality information available from IMDb, scholarly sources, contemporary reviews, and archival material.
There are certain films that feel less like watching a story and more like reading a diary you were never supposed to find. Aldo Lado’s 1981 adaptation of Alberto Moravia’s La Disubbidienza (Disobedience) is precisely that kind of cinematic artifact.
(played by Stefania Sandrelli), a nurse who sacrifices her own dignity to save him from illness, eventually becoming his lover and helping him find a new path forward. Themes and Critical Reception
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