The Knot in the Necktie

The fourteen-year-old Carlino, a restless and rebellious boy, lives with his parents Cesare and Bianca and with his older sister Carolina, who is about to marry Pietro. His father, severe and cold with his son, is a vain and irreducible womanizer who loves only himself and his dog, while his mother is shy and frustrated. Having married Carolina, the only one affectionate towards him, Carlino takes revenge for the lack of love, causing a lot of trouble. His father, furious, then sends him to a severe boarding school, run by religious men, where the boy feels uncomfortable with his classmates and teachers, and especially with the prefect in charge of night surveillance, who punishes him continuously.

Directed by Alessandro Di Robilant, The Knot in the Necktie leans on a strong ensemble — Patrick Bauchau, Eleonora Danco, Delia Boccardo — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1991.