I'm been watching the movie and I think that Fabriccio is retarged too, at least I find him incredeble simple minded.
He's not "retarged" or simple-minded, he's simple and uncomplicated--BIG difference. In addition, he's somewhat younger than Clara--a plot device by the author(s) to help justify the couple's compatibility.
shareI think that Fabrizio simply had a childlike philosophy. Rather than being entangled in the complicated web that Meg and some of the Nacarelli's weaved, he prefered to see life for what he thought it was: beautiful, simple, and nothing to worry about. I think, as a result, he and Clara made a great match. She needed an uplifting influence and she got that with Fabrizio.
Decorate yourself from the inside out. -Andrei Turnhollow
In the book it mentioned that her mother knew Clara would be fine with children as the young mothers in Italy had tons of household help and were not expected to make many decisions. She mentions that the young wives just sit and gossip about movie stars during the day...
shareI personally thought her having the mental age of 10 was just fine. 10 year olds can read and write and learn. I thought Clara would be cossetted in her new home and not have to make any decisions, etc.
shareWell, I'm middle-aged, but I work with a variety of people, and I don't think things have changed all that much. I work with a bunch of young women in their mid-20's and their chief interests are clubbing and shopping. I know a few men in their '40's (husbands and fathers) whose conversation consists of sports and what they're barbequeing on the weekend. And young mothers who seem solely interested in their children, celebrities, and 'reality' television. If Clara fell in with the right crowd, she would be fine.
Sure, today she'd be called 'a little ditzy', and someone would automatically double-check to make sure that she's where she's supposed to be, but if she's pleasant and agreeable, allowances would be made.
As to children, sure, they'll be embarrassed when they get to be teenagers, but that's going to happen anyway. :) In a lot of places 10 year olds are looking after younger siblings. With family support, she'll be okay, and so will the children.
Really, the mother could probably have pulled this off in America, if she had picked a part of the country where life was fairly casual, and no-one knew Clara's problem. California, say. They have money, marry her off to some easy-going beach-bum. I don't think setting it in Italy was meant, as some have suggested, as a slam at the Italians. I think it just makes it easier for the in-laws to gloss over any strangeness from Clara. Not just the language, her Italian will only get better with immersion, but in general, things will be written off as "Well, she's American, they're like that" , or "That must be how they do it in America". Or, pityingly, "She doesn't know any better, that's how she was raised". Things that might raise eyebrows among her parent's set could become little eccentricities in a different culture.
As for her father, sure, he'll be ticked off that the mother did this without telling him, but he's getting what he wanted: Clara, the embarrassment, out of the way, and his wife giving HIM her attention, instead of constantly supervising Clara. (Really, they could have hired a companion/watcher/tutor for Clara years ago, but that would have been unusual, and drawn attention to her problem.)
He'll pay the 'dowry', (with some grousing), and probably top it up on birthdays, and Christmases. Small price to pay for getting his wife back. And, I imagine most of their crowd back home had some idea of Clara's problem, and if they institutionalize her, people will notice her absence, and figure it got worse. Now, they can say she got better in Europe, and got married, and he's got something he can bring up in polite converstion. His 26 year old daughter got married, just like everyone else's 26 year old daughter.
They all seem like nice folks, they can visit Italy, keep in touch. The mother found a much better solution than locking her up in 'a country club'.
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I think that he has a 'secret' - they don't spell-out what it is, but after Clara and her mother return from Rome, the father is telling the Fabriccio to come and go sign the papers - before they think your crazy - there is a several second pause, and Fabriccio just freezes and stares like the father just mentioned something painful - I don't think that little piece would have been in there if it wasn't supposed to 'mean' something.
Even bigger - an Italian mother being HAPPY about having her non-Catholic future daughter-in-law married IN a Catholic church without having jumped through all the hoops first? Forget about it - they wanted HER to marry him before she found out whatever it was the family was hiding.
Also, Fabriccio's obnoxious brother makes a snarky comment about how the daughter can't even mail a letter without her mother coming along - makes it clear the family has discussed her behavior and seems to be able to live with it.
At the end when Clara/Fabriccio both eat either a rose petal (or some say candied almond), I think it is to show that they are 'simpatico' - a term used several times throughout the film.
The very last thing Mrs. Johnson says is "What ever happened to that man who fell when the cannon fired?" (or something to that effect). The father says absentmindedly, "He died." (even though he had said it was someone he knew- and if so would answered more sympathetically). Then she smiles and thinks, "I made the right decision." Why would she ask that at the end of the film? And why THAT question? I think the writer/director wanted to show that the father jumped up just when he knew that she was going to tell him about her daughters condition (the cannon fire had interrupted the conversation). This way, they could both just pretend their children were perfect and the Italian mom could have her grandkids and take care of them and the American mom could have her husband and marriage back.
Good analysis. It fits, it makes sense. And, an excellent solution for both families.
shareI think the reason they commented on Clara never being left alone is that she has had an upbringing similar to a young Italian lady of certain means. She has had a chaperone in her mother, and is pure and innocent. Not a “fast” American. I don’t know if Fabrizio is supposed to be challenged, but more likely, is in love. Everyone acts like an idiot when they are in love!
shareI think he is more intelligent than might first appear. When they are at the pool, he sees her scar. He knows she has a brain injury, but loves her anyway for her gentleness and sweetness and beauty.
shareboth Febrizio and Clara are products of sheltering over-protective parenting
he was 23 and she was 26
it is too bad there was not a sequel