Ugly, Dirty and Bad

Giacinto shares a crowded, ramshackle house on Rome's hills with his wife, sons, daughters, and assorted relatives. Once a simple worker, a fall during labor left him with the loss of an eye and a hefty insurance payout, which he keeps hidden and methodically guards. The payout becomes his secret fortress and the center of his daily routines. As the household scrapes by, his fixation on the money breeds suspicion and tension. Family members scheme and bicker, trying to pry the stash from his grasp, while Giacinto negotiates with a stubborn sense of ownership. The result is a volatile mix of affection and petty greed that tests their bonds.

Released in 1976, the film was directed by Ettore Scola with a screenplay by Ruggero Maccari. It features Nino Manfredi in the lead role as Giacinto and a sprawling Roman family.

The film is remembered as a blunt social satire that uses humor to expose the pressures of poverty and the fragility of family ties in an era of economic struggle. Its dry wit and human warmth helped it stand out in Italian cinema.

Critics praised the blend of comedy and documentary style without losing sight of personal tragedy. It tackles themes of ownership and obligation, the temptation of secrecy, and how a large brood negotiates love, loyalty, and survival under precarious odds.

Box office data from that era is not readily available in modern sources. When released, the film was viewed as a critical success rather than a blockbuster, noted for its social resonance rather than commercial impact.