I recorded this film onto video sometime in the 90's, during the heyday of Australia's multicultural channel SBS. In those years, David Stratton presented two or three foreign films a week, some of them obscure to the point where none are available today. "Once a Year, Every Year" is one of them.
A few years ago, I transferred the film to DVD and true to the title, find myself revisiting it, if not once a year, every few years. It never fails to enchant, despite a few unfortunately lame moments.
Briefly, eight friends meet every year at the same restaurant. At or near retirement age, they bring with them decades of friendship, including resentments and ongoing squabbles. On this particular night they are mourning one of their group who has recently died and has left a letter suggesting they live communally on his property.
The impeccable performances include, to name just a few, Jean Rochefort as Raffaele, an aging prankster, Giovanna Ralli as Laura, a disgruntled wife, Lando Buzzanca as Mario, a womanizing lecturer, Paolo Bonacelli as Romano, a reticent accountant, and Carla Cassola as Anna Maria, a frustrated Linguist.
Poignant in parts, the film is more a comedy of manners. There is one moment that belongs in Great Moments of Cinema History. For quite awhile we have noticed Anna Maria downing copious amounts of red wine at the edge of the screen as attention is directed to other conversations. And then Carla Cassola, in a bravura performance, breaks out in drunken laughter, taking over a minute of screen time and bringing all talk to a halt as she tries to explain why. It is absolutely hilarious.
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