Fortunella

Fortunella

Year: 1958

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Italian

Comedy

A poor girl is convinced she is the daughter of a prince.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Fortunella (1958)

Trace every key event in Fortunella (1958) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Fortunella and Peppino's romance

Fortunella, a poor girl, lives in a rough district of Rome and becomes the lover of Peppino, a second-hand dealer. Their fragile happiness is shadowed by poverty and the dangers surrounding them. Their relationship will drive Fortunella to make drastic choices later in the story.

Roman second-hand dealers' district
2

She takes the blame and goes to prison

To save Peppino from consequences he caused, Fortunella accepts responsibility for his crime of receiving stolen goods. She is sentenced and imprisoned, bearing the burden alone. The sacrifice marks a turning point in her life.

Prison in Rome
3

Release and the revelation of Peppino’s life with Amelia

After serving her sentence, Fortunella is released and discovers that Peppino now lives with another woman, Amelia. A confrontation reveals his betrayal and prompts Fortunella to re-evaluate her loyalty. The sense of betrayal pushes her toward a new path.

Peppino's residence in the neighborhood
4

Fortunella abandons Peppino

In the wake of betrayal, Fortunella gathers resolve and withdraws from Peppino. She refuses to be a kept or duped partner and refuses to return to an unhealthy relationship. Her choice signals a shift toward independence.

In their neighborhood
5

Fortunella's illusion of royal parentage

Fortunella clings to a fantastical belief that she is the illegitimate daughter of Prince Guidobaldi. The notion gives meaning to her life and fuels her dreams of belonging. It colors her decisions and frames her world as she navigates hardship.

childhood Nearby palace area
6

Meeting Golfiero Paganica

Fortunella meets a wandering professor, Golfiero Paganica, who listens to her story and offers help. His arrival introduces a potential ally who understands her longing for a fated connection to nobility. The encounter sows the seeds of a dramatic arc.

City streets near the neighborhood
7

Joining a traveling theatre under the Tiber

Together with Golfiero, Fortunella joins a company of actors performing under a large tent on the banks of the Tiber. The troupe seeks to transform misery into art, giving Fortunella a new home and identity. The movement into street theater marks a turn from romance to performance.

Banks of the Tiber, under a tent
8

The show's ruin through Golfiero's illness

Golfiero's incontinence causes a series of accidents that ruin the performance. The disasters threaten to dismantle the troupe and test Fortunella's resolve. The failure deepens her reliance on the dream she has built around herself.

Tent theatre by the Tiber
9

Fortunella reunites with Peppino

Despite her new ambitions, Fortunella briefly reunites with Peppino. The encounter underscores the tug between old attachments and the path she is choosing. It serves as a reminder of the world she is trying to leave behind.

Rome, in their shared circle
10

Golfiero's hospitalization and death; inheritance

Golfiero is hospitalized and soon dies, leaving Fortunella a dilapidated chalet. The death deprives her of a guardian angel, yet the will to rebuild still lingers. The chalet becomes a symbol of possible resilience or a tether to a fading past.

Hospital; inheritance of chalet
11

Palace summons Fortunella

Prince Guidobaldi, friend of Golfiero and the executor of his estate, calls Fortunella to the palace. The summons signals an end to her fantasy and tests what is true. It presents her with a formal confrontation over her story.

Prince Guidobaldi's palace
12

Fortunella tells her story; the truth emerges

Fortunella recounts her life to the prince, seeking validation and perhaps a sense of justice. The prince establishes that during the alleged period he was in India, undermining her claim of royal lineage. Her dream is suddenly pierced by evidence.

Prince Guidobaldi's palace
13

Disappointment and resolve to break with Peppino

Disappointed by the prince's proof, Fortunella becomes embittered but resolves to sever ties with Peppino for good. The old relationship loses its hold, and she steels herself for a future without him. The rejection helps crystallize her new purpose.

Palace visit; her reflections
14

Commitment to the troupe and a staged destiny

Fortunella chooses to stay with the actors, aiming to perform the princess role she long believed was hers. She turns her fantasy into performance and crafts a future on stage rather than in romance. The stage becomes her new home and meaning.

Tent theatre on the banks of the Tiber

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:24

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