Dream of a Summer Night


Dream of a Summer Night is a 1983 Italian musical film written and directed by Gabriele Salvatores, at his directorial debut. Based on a rock musical directed by the same Salvatores, it is a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was screened in the "De Sica" section at the 40th edition of the Venice International Film Festival.

Plot

The wedding day of Teseo and Ippolita, two young heirs of the Milanese bourgeoisie, is near. Everything has been arranged: the party will take place in the splendid family villa in the Lombard plain. Among the guests there are Lisandro, Demetrio, Erminia and Elena, inseparable and involved in a strange relationship made of impulses, tenderness and whims. Meanwhile, in a nearby farmhouse, some guys are trying out the show they will perform during the party. The neighboring forest, however, is populated by elves, fairies and other strange creatures, ruled by King Oberon and his wife Titania, queen of the night. Over the course of the night, the king and his subjects enjoy spying on the four youngsters and pushing them to each other without a reason, thanks to the powerful elixirs given to them by the elf Puck. Only on the wedding day, while the show is going on stage in the big hall, Lisandro, Demetrio, Erminia and Elena will be able to shed light on their true feelings.

Cast