Overview
A blind captain and a young cadet embark on a chaotic journey through Italy, where life lessons await.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sardonic
- melancholic
- classic cinema evening
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a sharply acted Italian comedy drama whose abrasive humor gains emotional force from its serious examination of isolation and dignity.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Fausto and Ciccio travel from Turin through Rome to Naples during a week-long journey.
Fausto rejects pity, brooks disagreement, mistreats Ciccio, and treats Sara cruelly while concealing emotional need.
Fausto's drinking and revelry with another blind soldier are shadowed by their serious discussion of a suicide pact.
The army cadet Ciccio is ordered around by Fausto but gradually confronts the captain's emotional and ethical crisis.
Films like Scent of a Woman, and why
The Easy Life
shared italian comedy drama, abrasive central character, bittersweet road journey, and emotional transformation
The Straight Story
shared european road movie structure, generational companionship, caustic humor, and melancholy beneath comic behavior
The Fire Within
shared black comedy, male emotional repression, existential despair, and an uneasy blend of cruelty and tenderness
Divorce, Italian Style
shared italian character comedy, difficult masculinity, romantic longing, and humane dramatic undercurrents
Movie Details
- Director
- Dino Risi
- Release Date
- 1974-12-20
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (270)
Cast
- Vittorio Gassman
- Alessandro Momo
- Agostina Belli
- Moira Orfei
- Franco Ricci
- Elena Veronese
- Lorenzo Piani
- Stefania Spugnini
- Torindo Bernardi
- Marisa Volonnino
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Scent of a Woman about?
- An imperious blind captain and his young military escort embark on a volatile Italian journey that turns caustic comedy into a test of dignity, despair, and human connection.
- What is Scent of a Woman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Scent of a Woman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Scent of a Woman violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Scent of a Woman as mild.
- What did critics think of Scent of a Woman?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a sharply acted Italian comedy drama whose abrasive humor gains emotional force from its serious examination of isolation and dignity.
- Which films are like Scent of a Woman?
- Films with a similar feel include The Easy Life, The Straight Story, The Fire Within, and Divorce, Italian Style.
- How long is Scent of a Woman?
- Scent of a Woman runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Scent of a Woman?
- In United States, Scent of a Woman is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.
