a may day 1938 when happen a huge rally celebrate hitler visit to rome serf a the backdrop for a love story between antoniette ( sophia loren ) marry to fascist ( john vernon ) and gabriel ( marcello mastroianni ) . she a boring housewife with several son and he a unhappy and solitary homosexual fire from radio and pursue by the fascist . she leave alone in her home when her spouse must to attend the historical celebration . then both develop a very enjoyable relationship in spite of their difference . the film be set on the historic meeting fuher hitler and duce mussolini along with others authority a count ciano and king victor manuel iii and describe the event by a radio voice in off which sometimes be irritate . it a romantic drama carry out with sense and sensibility . an unrelentingly passionate romance between two conflict character . magnificent performance from two pro make a splendid movie well worth see . of course ruggero macarri and ettore scola sensible screenplay result in ever interesting and elaborate and sentimental . colorful and atmospheric cinematography by pascualino de santis . emotive musical score by armando trovajoly with sensitive leitmotif . the film win deservedly golden globe 1978 to best foreign film . director scola imagination stretch to light up the limited scenario where be develop the drama . usually his film take place on a few stage and be semi theatrical . for example represent ¨le bal¨ ( 1982 ) use a french dance hall to illustrate the change in society 2 ) ¨nuit of varennes ( 1983 ) a stagecoach be the scenario where meet an unlikely group a thomas paine and luis xvi and marie antoinette who flee from revolutionary paris 3 ) ¨the family¨ ( 1987 ) all take place in the family grand old roman flat while and of course 4 ) ¨una giornata particulare¨ or ¨a special day¨ where loren and mastroianni strike up a marvelous relationship into their respective apartment and at the flat roof .