Regina (aka Regina Roma) (1983)

A shrewish wife (Ava Gardner) and her henpecked husband (Anthony Quinn) anxiously await the arrival of their son (Ray Sharkey) who has been away from home for a long time. When he shows up, he is not alone. He has brought his fiancee (Anna Karina) who his parents didn't know about. This causes the domineering mother to have a meltdown and family secrets are exposed. Based on the play LA MIENNE S'APPELAIT REGINE by Pierre Rey (who adapted his play for the screen) and directed by Jean Yves Prate (his only film as a director). This is essentially a filmed play. It all takes place on one set (a living room and dining room) and there are only four characters in the whole movie. It's the barely disguised spawn of Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? but the dialogue is trite. It's an Italian film written and adapted by a French playwright and performed in English so it might be a case of artistic culture shock. I can see why an aging beauty like Gardner might have been attracted to the project, a chance to show she could really act so it's a pity the script and direction let her down at every opportunity. The film vaguely hints at a past incestuous relationship between the mother and son (who may be autistic) and Anna Karina spends most of the film mute until the movie's last 20 minutes. All four actors are talented but they drown in the ineptitude of the film makers.