Italian Communist Party MP and water polo player who loses his memory after a car accident. He travels to Sicily for a decisive league match, interacting with teammates and others to reconstruct his identity before a disappointing loss and a final drive home.
Giovanni is a therapist and Andrea's father, living with Paola and Irene in Ancona. When Andrea dies in a diving accident, he is consumed by grief and begins questioning the equipment and his own decisions. His emotional distance from patients breaks down, especially toward the distressed patient he visited on the day of the death.
A neighbor and medical professional in the building, portrayed by director Nanni Moretti. He serves as both an observer and participant in the residents' stories.
Pietro Paladini is the film’s central figure, a manager and widower whose wife dies unexpectedly after he and his brother Carlo rescue two women from drowning. He withdraws from work and spends his days near Claudia’s school, remaining outwardly calm while becoming a focus for Marta, his brother, and his co-workers.
A solitary, meticulous mathematics teacher at the experimental Marilyn Monroe high school, Michele is the central figure of the story. He becomes preoccupied with his neighbours’ lives, falls in love with Bianca, and is suspected of murder after several people around him die. His need for order ultimately gives way to a fragile mental state and a confession to the inspector.
The charismatic Minister of Industry who hires Luciano Sandulli. Initially admired, he is later revealed to be a corrupt politician who manipulates elections, favors personal contacts, and uses intimidation to maintain power. He wins the election and publicly champions an honest policy while privately mocking Luciano's moral stance.
Nanni Moretti / Silvio Berlusconi appears in the film’s final political scene as the figure entering a tribunal to hear a seven-year prison sentence. Although the production is believed unlikely to finish, Bruno shoots this sequence anyway. After the ruling, the character exits through a crowd attacking the judges, emphasizing the power of political communication.
One of the four disillusioned former protesters. He struggles with his present life and initiates a romantic relationship with his friend Cesare's girlfriend, Flaminia.
Nanni Moretti has 163 screen credits in a career dating back to 1973. Signature works include A Brighter Tomorrow, We Have a Pope, To Each His Own Cinema. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
