Antonio (Enrico Salimbeni) may not have been the most energetic waiter in the most popular restaurant in this unfashionable Adriatic tourist town, but that is no reason for his boss not to pay him. When he takes the wages that he is owed out of the till, not only does the owner throw him out, but he has him beaten up, to boot. Enzo (Mario Adorf), the owner of a restaurant so far off the beaten track it is widely known as Abissinia rather than being called by its true name, takes him in. The leisurely pace of everything that is done at the restaurant leaves Antonio with plenty of time to put together the story of its owner and the love of his life, and how he, too, fell from culinary glory to his present obscurity.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
20 people
Mario Adorf
Enzo Pagnini
Known for
The Tin Drum
The Italian Connection
Grażyna Szapołowska
Francesca
Known for
365 Days
A Short Film About Love
Francesco Ranieri Martinotti
Michele Corsi
Laurentina Guidotti
Also in
The Guy From the Stands
The House of Lost Souls
Enrico Salimbeni
Antonio
Known for
Radiofreccia
The Devil of Venice
Luca Zingaretti
Marco
Known for
Rose Island
Inspector Montalbano
Fulvio Ottaviano
Paki Valente
Renato Santalmassi
Also in
Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna
Nestore, l'ultima corsa
Danila Pisano
Silvia
No other roles listed
Elena Cantarone
Lucy
Known for
The Raffle
Milena Vukotić
Armida
Known for
Letters to Juliet
Fantozzi Against the Wind
Francesco Ranieri Martinotti Director · Fulvio Ottaviano Screenplay Michele Corsi Story
First release May 28, 1993 · Produced in Italy · Production Istituto Luce-Italnoleggio Cinematografico, Ministero del Turismo e dello Spettacolo
Production
Iterfilm
Production
Istituto Luce-Italnoleggio Cinematografico
Production
Ministero del Turismo e dello Spettacolo
Production
RAI 2
Production
Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original language
Italian
Spoken on screen
Italian
Release dates
Italy · May 28, 1993
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Canada
September 13, 1993 · Toronto Film Festival
Greece
September 1, 1993 · Thessaloniki International Film Festival
More from Francesco Ranieri Martinotti
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked Abissinia
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.