We are in 1971 when Catherine Deneuve meets Marcello Mastroianni, who died 27 years ago, on December 19, 1996. He is 47, she is 28. It is in Corsica that the magic happens, while the feature film Lisa, by Marco Ferreri, mobilizes the film crews. From their forbidden passion a child was born, Chiara Mastroianni, on May 28, 1972. The young girl spoke about an argument that broke out in the columns of She, and mentions a small disagreement between his father and mother. “We went to see AND I was sitting in between. At first, when ET is chased through the woods, I obviously burst into tears, and my parents start to get upset. My father says we can’t stay: ‘She’s too ill’; my mother says the opposite: ‘We’re holding on!’ We stayed. He couldn’t bear to see me in this summer of absolute sadness. While she was convinced: it’s normal to cry at the cinema.”
An omnipresent first woman… despite herself
However, it was not this different conception of cinema that acted as a chopper for the couple. But rather… the sentimental past of Marcello Mastroianni. Married to Flora Carabella when he met Catherine Deneuve, he never wanted to divorce. And for good reason ! The actor, born in Italy in the 1920s in Fontana Libri in Lazio, is very marked by Italian Catholic culture, which coupled with his pride as an actor, reinforces him in his decision. This wife, whom Marcello Mastroianni met in his first drama classes, therefore stood in the way of the young French actress’ happiness.
Because the combo was bad for Catherine Deneuve, who could only rely on a forever unofficial love ! Two after the birth of their daughter Chiara, the couple separated at the initiative of Catherine Deneuve… while remaining on good terms. Both continue their daughter’s education together. For his part, Marcello Mastroianni will have a series of female conquests, from Sophia Loren to Silvana Mangano, the actor, was a born seducer.
Article written with the collaboration of 6Médias.
Photo credits: AGENCE / BESTIMAGE