Gabriele Ferzetti: Sandro

L'Avventura

Sandro

Sandro: Why should we be here talking, arguing? Believe me, Anna, words are more and more pointless. They create misunderstandings.

Sandro: [Admiring the buildings of a small town from a rooftop] Such imagination. Such movement. They were concerned with the architectural aesthetics. Such extraordinary freedom. I must go ahead and leave Ettore. I'd like to work on design again. I used to have ideas of my own, you know.
Claudia: Why did you stop?
Sandro: Why, why, why? Because it isn't easy to admit that a red floor suits a room when you are thinking exactly the opposite. But the lady wants it red. Because there is always a lady... or a man... and so... Once I was asked to make the estimate for the construction of a school. It took me a day and a half. I earned four million lira. So I went on giving estimates of other people's projects. Why are you looking at me this way?
Claudia: Because I am convinced you could make really beautiful things.
Sandro: I don't know. I really don't know about that. Who needs beautiful things nowadays, Claudia? How long will they last? All of this was built to last centuries. Today, 10, 20 years at the most, and then? Well...

Sandro: Was she blonde or brunette?
Pharmacist: Brunette.
Pharmacist's jealous wife: Blonde.
Sandro: What was she wearing?
Pharmacist: I don't remember. Some pale color, I believe.
Pharmacist's jealous wife: He doesn't notice the clothing. He notices what's underneath.

Sandro: Did you know that when I was a boy I wanted to be a diplomat? Can you imagine that! Me, a diplomat? It's strange but I never thought I'd be rich. I saw myself living in a rooming house, full of geniuses... Instead, I have two apartments, one in Rome and one in Milan. As far as genius goes, it's a habit I've never formed. What do you think of that?

Sandro: You love Anna very much.
Claudia: Yes, very much.
Sandro: Did she ever talk to you about me?
Claudia: Seldom, but always tenderly.
Sandro: And yet - and yet she acted as though our love, mine, yours, even her father's, in a way, weren't enough for her, meant nothing to her.

Anna: I know, it's absurd. I'm distraught. The idea of losing you makes me want to die. I don't feel you anymore.
Sandro: Even yesterday, at my place, you didn't feel me anymore?
Anna: You always have to dirty everything.

Anna: I think we should talk about it. Or do you think we won't be able to understand each other either?
Sandro: We'll have time to talk. We're getting married. What's longer time than a lifetime?

Sandro: It's all my fault. Say it. It's what you're thinking.
Claudia: You're so concerned with what I'm thinking. You should have made more of an effort to understand what Anna was thinking.

Sandro: Claudia, what's the matter?
Claudia: Sandro, I'm so ashamed, so ashamed. Did you see that? I was trying to hide. I feel miserable. I hate myself.
Sandro: Do you enjoy saying these things?
Claudia: No, not at all.
Sandro: So why do you say them?
Claudia: Because what I'm doing is ugly.

Claudia: To think that you must have told Anna these same things--I don't know, how many times.
Sandro: Let's say I did. I was as earnest with her as I am now with you.

Claudia: It's absurd.
Sandro: Good. All the better if it is absurd. It means we can't do anything about it. Understand?

Zuria - il giornalista: Please, don't take it badly, but why should I do you a favor?
Sandro: Let's say it's business, then. To help you round up your salary.

Claudia: I'd really like to know what you're going to say now. Go on, speak. I don't want you with me or to see you. How can I make you understand? Why did you come?
Sandro: I couldn't help it.
Claudia: Well, we'll have to help it, so you might as well make this sacrifice right now.

Claudia: I've never felt so shaken in my whole life. Sandro, why don't you help me?
Sandro: I think the only way we can help each other is by staying together.
Claudia: No. I'm sure that's not it.