Good Morning, Night (2003)
Marco Bellocchio's haunting Italian drama reconstructs the 1978 Aldo Moro kidnapping through the fractured conscience of a Red Brigade militant.
Good Morning, Night - Movie Information
- Original Title: Buongiorno, notte
- Release Year: 2003
- Directed by: Marco Bellocchio
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, History
- Runtime: 1h 46m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 5, 2003 (Italy - T), November 19, 2004 (United Kingdom), June 14, 2007 (Germany), February 4, 2004 (France), August 19, 2005 (Spain), December 8, 2006 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Добро утро, нощ (BG), Bom Dia, Noite (PT), Good Morning, Night (CA), Witaj, nocy (PL), Buongiorno, notte (BE), Günaydın gece (TR), Godmorgen nat (DK), Buongiorno, notte (FR)
- Production Companies: Filmalbatros, RAI Cinema, Sky Cinema, MiC
- Production Countries: Italy
Good Morning, Night - Plot
The 1978 kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro, president of the most important political party in Italy at the time, Democrazia Cristiana, as seen from the perspective of one of his assailants -- a conflicted young woman in the ranks of the Red Brigade.
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Good Morning, Night - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Marco Bellocchio
Main Cast
- Maya Sansa
- Luigi Lo Cascio
- Roberto Herlitzka
- Paolo Briguglia
- Pier Giorgio Bellocchio
- Giovanni Calcagno
- Giulio Bosetti
- Gianni Schicchi
- Carlo Castelli
- Bruno Cariello
Writers
- Marco Bellocchio
- Daniela Ceselli
Producers
- Marco Bellocchio
- Sergio Pelone
Good Morning, Night - FAQs
What is Good Morning, Night about?
Good Morning, Night follows Chiara, a young woman living a double life as a Red Brigade militant involved in the 1978 kidnapping of Italian statesman Aldo Moro. As the weeks pass, her ideological certainty begins to crack, and the film explores her inner conflict through a haunting blend of memory, dream, and political reality.
Does the film reimagine Aldo Moro's fate?
Yes, in one of the film's most striking moments, Bellocchio introduces an alternate history sequence where Chiara imagines Moro walking free into the Roman dawn. It's a dreamlike departure from historical fact that cuts to the emotional heart of the film — a quiet, anguished wish that things had gone differently.
Where can you watch Good Morning, Night?
You can find current streaming and rental options for Good Morning, Night on JustWatch, which lists all available platforms in your region. Availability may vary depending on your country, so it's worth checking for the most up-to-date options.
Is Good Morning, Night based on a true story?
Yes, the film is rooted in one of Italy's most traumatic real events. The kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades in 1978 shook the country to its core. Bellocchio draws partly on Anna Laura Braghetti's memoir, told from the perspective of a female militant who harbored Moro in a Rome apartment.
Who plays Aldo Moro in the film?
Roberto Herlitzka delivers a deeply affecting performance as Aldo Moro, portraying the statesman with quiet dignity and sorrow during his captivity. His scenes opposite Maya Sansa, who plays the conflicted Chiara, are among the most emotionally resonant in the film.
How was Good Morning, Night received by critics?
The film earned widespread critical acclaim, particularly in Europe. It won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2003 and was celebrated for Bellocchio's bold, poetic approach to a painful chapter of Italian history. Critics praised its refusal to reduce complex political violence to simple moral judgments.
What is the significance of the film's title?
The title — Buongiorno, notte in Italian — is deliberately paradoxical, pairing a morning greeting with the word for night. It reflects the film's central tension: Chiara lives in ideological darkness while the outside world carries on in the light. It also echoes a poem by Emily Dickinson that appears in the film.
What are some films similar to Good Morning, Night?
If Good Morning, Night resonated with you, try Marco Bellocchio's own Vincere (2009), or Carlos (2010) for another immersive look at 1970s political militancy. Sacco & Vanzetti (1971) and The Best of Youth (2003) also explore Italian political history with comparable depth and emotional intelligence.
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